Authorities found two more suspicious packages on Friday addressed to US&nbsp;Senator Cory Booker and James Clapper, the former US&nbsp;director of national intelligence, amid a manhunt for the person who sent bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

The 11th package was found at a mail sorting facility in Florida and was addressed to Booker, the Democratic senator from New Jersey, the FBI said on Twitter. A 12th package was addressed to James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, and sent to CNN, the cable network reported.

Meanwhile, a local police bomb squad and canine units joined federal investigators on Thursday to examine a sprawling US&nbsp;mail distribution center at Opa-Locka, northwest of Miami, Miami-Dade County police said.

US&nbsp;Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that Florida appeared to be the starting point for at least some of the bomb shipments.

"Some of the packages went through the mail. They originated, some of them, from Florida," she said during an interview with Fox News Channel on Thursday. "I am confident that this person or people will be brought to justice."

Authorities called the parcel bombs an act of terrorism. They were sent less than two weeks before national elections that could alter the balance of power in Washington.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombs, and the public was asked to report any tips.

All the people targeted were frequently maligned by right-wing critics. They included Democratic Party donor George Soros, former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, and former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said that at least five of the packages bore a return address from the Florida office of US&nbsp;Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Authorities believe the packages, which were intercepted before reaching their intended recipients, all went through the US&nbsp;Postal Service at some point, a source said. None detonated and no one has been hurt.

The devices were thought to have been fashioned from bomb-making designs widely available on the internet, a federal law enforcement source told Reuters.

Still, investigators are treating the devices as "live" explosives, not a hoax, said James O'Neill, the New York City police commissioner. Two of the parcels surfaced there.

"It does remain possible that further packages have been or could be mailed," William Sweeney, assistant director of the FBI, told a news conference in New York.

Investigators have declined to say whether the devices were built to be functional. Bomb experts and security analysts say that based on their rudimentary construction it appeared they were more likely designed to sow fear rather than to kill.

The parcels each consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing "potentially destructive devices," the FBI said. Each was affixed with a computer-printed address label and six US&nbsp;"Forever" postage stamps, the agency said.

Others who received the bombs were former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA director John Brennan, US&nbsp;Representative Maxine Waters of California, and actor Robert De Nero. Two packages were sent both to Waters and Biden.

Brennan's package was sent in care of the New York bureau of CNN, where he has appeared as an on-air analyst.

The episode sparked an outcry from Trump's critics, who charged that his inflammatory rhetoric against Democrats and the press has created a climate for politically motivated violence.

After first calling for "unity" and civil discourse on Wednesday, Trump lashed out again Thursday at the "hateful" media. His supporters accused Democrats of unfairly suggesting the president was to blame for the bomb scare.

"Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, “it’s just not Presidential!” Trump said on Twitter at about 3:15 a.m. EST (0715 GMT) on Friday.

Authorities found two more suspicious packages on Friday addressed to US Senator Cory Booker and James Clapper, the former US director of national intelligence, amid a manhunt for the person who sent bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump.

Authorities found two more suspicious packages on Friday addressed to US Senator Cory Booker and James Clapper, the former US director of national intelligence, amid a manhunt for the person who sent bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump. The 11th package was found at a mail sorting facility in Florida and was addressed to Booker, the Democratic senator from New Jersey, the FBI said on Twitter. A 12th package was addressed to James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, and sent to CNN, the cable network reported. Meanwhile, a local police bomb squad and canine units joined federal investigators on Thursday to examine a sprawling US mail distribution center at Opa-Locka, northwest of Miami, Miami-Dade County police said. US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that Florida appeared to be the starting point for at least some of the bomb shipments. "Some of the packages went through the mail. They originated, some of them, from Florida," she said during an interview with Fox News Channel on Thursday. "I am confident that this person or people will be brought to justice." Authorities called the parcel bombs an act of terrorism. They were sent less than two weeks before national elections that could alter the balance of power in Washington. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombs, and the public was asked to report any tips. All the people targeted were frequently maligned by right-wing critics. They included Democratic Party donor George Soros, former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, and former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said that at least five of the packages bore a return address from the Florida office of US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee. Authorities believe the packages, which were intercepted before reaching their intended recipients, all went through the US Postal Service at some point, a source said. None detonated and no one has been hurt. The devices were thought to have been fashioned from bomb-making designs widely available on the internet, a federal law enforcement source told Reuters. Still, investigators are treating the devices as "live" explosives, not a hoax, said James O'Neill, the New York City police commissioner. Two of the parcels surfaced there. "It does remain possible that further packages have been or could be mailed," William Sweeney, assistant director of the FBI, told a news conference in New York. Investigators have declined to say whether the devices were built to be functional. Bomb experts and security analysts say that based on their rudimentary construction it appeared they were more likely designed to sow fear rather than to kill. The parcels each consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing "potentially destructive devices," the FBI said. Each was affixed with a computer-printed address label and six US "Forever" postage stamps, the agency said. Others who received the bombs were former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA director John Brennan, US Representative Maxine Waters of California, and actor Robert De Nero. Two packages were sent both to Waters and Biden. Brennan's package was sent in care of the New York bureau of CNN, where he has appeared as an on-air analyst. The episode sparked an outcry from Trump's critics, who charged that his inflammatory rhetoric against Democrats and the press has created a climate for politically motivated violence. After first calling for "unity" and civil discourse on Wednesday, Trump lashed out again Thursday at the "hateful" media. His supporters accused Democrats of unfairly suggesting the president was to blame for the bomb scare. "Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, “it’s just not Presidential!” Trump said on Twitter at about 3:15 a.m. EST (0715 GMT) on Friday.

Police find packages sent to ex-US intel chief Clapper, US Senator Booker

Two schoolgirls were arrested in a middle school in central Florida on the charges of conspiring to murder classmates and drink their blood and eat their flesh.

According to CNN, the authorities revealed that the girls aged 11 and 12 waited in the school washroom to kill other students with knives.

During a news conference, Bartow Police Chief Joe Hall said the girls had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon on school property, carrying a concealed weapon, and disruption of a school function.

The girls admitted to being Satan worshippers, reported the officials. The two also planned on killing themselves, the officials said.

They were caught after an automated call from the school intimated one of the girls’ parents that their daughter was not in the class.

It is still unclear whether the girls will be tried as adults.

Two schoolgirls were arrested in a middle school in central Florida on the charges of conspiring to murder classmates and drink their blood and eat their flesh. According to CNN, the authorities revealed that the girls aged 11 and 12 waited in the school washroom to kill other students with knives.

Two schoolgirls were arrested in a middle school in central Florida on the charges of conspiring to murder classmates and drink their blood and eat their flesh. According to CNN, the authorities revealed that the girls aged 11 and 12 waited in the school washroom to kill other students with knives. During a news conference, Bartow Police Chief Joe Hall said the girls had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon on school property, carrying a concealed weapon, and disruption of a school function. The girls admitted to being Satan worshippers, reported the officials. The two also planned on killing themselves, the officials said. They were caught after an automated call from the school intimated one of the girls’ parents that their daughter was not in the class. It is still unclear whether the girls will be tried as adults.

Florida: 2 schoolgirls conspire to murder classmates, drink their blood

The hunt for missing people in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael early Sunday is turning into a search for the dead, as hope of finding more people alive fades in the Florida Panhandle, US&nbsp;officials said.

"We're going into recovery mode, unfortunately," said Fire Chief Alex Baird of Panama City, one of the coastal Florida communities clobbered by the hurricane that made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, packing more than 140 mph winds and deadly storm surges.

"At sunrise, we'll start again on our search," Baird said. "We hope that we'll find more (survivors), but it's more and more doubtful."

President Donald Trump is expected to visit both Florida and Georgia early this week to inspect the damage, and the White House said late Saturday the president was fully committed to helping state and local agencies with the recovery.

The death toll of the storm reached at least 18 Saturday night and is expected to rise in the US&nbsp;Southeast as rescuers go door-to-door in coastal communities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Search and rescue volunteers have already located hundreds of people reported missing last week.

On Saturday, rescue crews heard cries for help and crowbarred into a mobile home crumpled by the storm in Panama City, freeing a mother and daughter, both diabetics who had been trapped in a closet without insulin for two days and were on the verge of diabetic shock, rescuers said.

A lack of food and water is among the most pressing issues for people reeling from the storm, said one volunteer who had been working in the Panama City area.

Rescue teams, hampered by power and telephone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to hunt for people in the rubble.

More than 1,700 search and rescue workers were deployed, including seven swift-water rescue teams and nearly 300 ambulances, Florida Governor Rick Scott's office said.

Electricity and phone service were being slowly restored, but it could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged areas.

The hunt for missing people in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael early Sunday is turning into a search for the dead, as hope of finding more people alive fades in the Florida Panhandle, US officials said.

The hunt for missing people in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael early Sunday is turning into a search for the dead, as hope of finding more people alive fades in the Florida Panhandle, US officials said. "We're going into recovery mode, unfortunately," said Fire Chief Alex Baird of Panama City, one of the coastal Florida communities clobbered by the hurricane that made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, packing more than 140 mph winds and deadly storm surges. "At sunrise, we'll start again on our search," Baird said. "We hope that we'll find more (survivors), but it's more and more doubtful." President Donald Trump is expected to visit both Florida and Georgia early this week to inspect the damage, and the White House said late Saturday the president was fully committed to helping state and local agencies with the recovery. The death toll of the storm reached at least 18 Saturday night and is expected to rise in the US Southeast as rescuers go door-to-door in coastal communities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Search and rescue volunteers have already located hundreds of people reported missing last week. On Saturday, rescue crews heard cries for help and crowbarred into a mobile home crumpled by the storm in Panama City, freeing a mother and daughter, both diabetics who had been trapped in a closet without insulin for two days and were on the verge of diabetic shock, rescuers said. A lack of food and water is among the most pressing issues for people reeling from the storm, said one volunteer who had been working in the Panama City area. Rescue teams, hampered by power and telephone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to hunt for people in the rubble. More than 1,700 search and rescue workers were deployed, including seven swift-water rescue teams and nearly 300 ambulances, Florida Governor Rick Scott's office said. Electricity and phone service were being slowly restored, but it could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged areas.

Hopes fade for more survivors of Hurricane Michael

The death toll from Hurricane Michael rose to 17 people across four states on Friday as rescuers, hampered by power and phone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to search devastated communities in the Florida Panhandle.

Searchers found one person dead in the rubble of Mexico Beach, said Joseph Zahralban, Miami's fire chief and the task force leader of a search and rescue unit. Three additional deaths were reported in Marianna, in Jackson County, Florida, Sheriff Lou Roberts told a news conference on Friday afternoon.

"I've watched on television, thinking of what others have experienced, like in the Carolinas and Texas," Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey told reporters. "But it's different when you walk down and see this, and your emotions run away. This is just a small unique coastal community."

The number of fatalities is expected to rise further as rescuers go door to door and comb through the rubble in Mexico Beach and other Florida coastal communities such as Port St. Joe and Panama City.

"I think you're going to see it climb," Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said of the death count. "We still haven't gotten into some of the hardest-hit areas."

The dead include at least eight people in Florida, five in Virginia, three in North Carolina and one in Georgia.

FEMA crews have been using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to push a path through debris to allow rescuers to probe the rubble with specially trained search dogs.

Michael blew ashore near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon as one of the most powerful storms in U.S. history, with winds of up o 155 miles per hour (250 km per hour). It pushed a wall of seawater inland, causing widespread flooding.

The storm, which in less than two days grew from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, tore apart entire neighbourhoods in the Panhandle, reducing homes to naked concrete foundations or piles of wood and siding.

NO PHONE, INTERNET

Except for the emergency-911 system, authorities in Bay County, the epicentre of the disaster, were virtually without telephone or internet service until late in the day on Friday, making communications internally and with the public difficult.

"We didn't have anything," said Ruth Corley, a spokeswoman for the Bay County Sheriff's Department. "We've been writing things down on pieces of paper. We're doing what we can with the minimal media that we have."

She said local television stations were knocked off the air for two days, and authorities were relying on the radio station of the Gulf Coast State College to broadcast public service bulletins.

She said search teams were going door-to-door looking for possible storm victims who may have been trapped or killed.

Bay County officials have previously said 56 people chose to stay back in Mexico Beach and search and rescue teams were trying to account for them.

Social media websites were filled with messages from people trying to reach missing family members in Florida's Bay and Gulf Counties.

Locals offered to go to addresses to see if houses had survived or if residents were there. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided a website with satellite images for people to check on the condition of homes.

REBUILD RIGHT

FEMA's Long urged communities such as Mexico Beach, where many homes were obliterated by 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 meters) of storm surge, to rebuild to withstand future storms.

"It's OK if you want to live on the coast or on top of a mountain that sees wildfires or whatever, but you have to build to a higher standard," he said. "If we're going to rebuild, do it right."

By Friday morning the remnants of the storm were located about 275 miles (445 km) southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles (100 km) per hour.

About one million homes and businesses were without power from Florida to Virginia on Friday, according to utility companies.

It could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged parts of Florida.

The number of people in emergency shelters was expected to swell to 20,000 across five states by Friday, said Brad Kieserman of the American Red Cross. The Coast Guard reported rescuing 129 people.

Even as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors or the deceased, some residents of Mexico Beach were nervously trickling back on Friday, expressing hope the place, nicknamed "the Forgotten Coast," would not change too much as it rebuilds.

"It was the perfect beach town. Not all of that commercialism," said Dottie Sinclair, 57, a nurse, adding a Subway fast-food restaurant was the only commercial chain.

"I don't think it will ever be the same," said husband Danny Sinclair, 64, who is semi-retired. "People will just pack up and leave."

The death toll from Hurricane Michael rose to 17 people across four states on Friday as rescuers, hampered by power and phone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to search devastated communities in the Florida Panhandle.

The death toll from Hurricane Michael rose to 17 people across four states on Friday as rescuers, hampered by power and phone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to search devastated communities in the Florida Panhandle. Searchers found one person dead in the rubble of Mexico Beach, said Joseph Zahralban, Miami's fire chief and the task force leader of a search and rescue unit. Three additional deaths were reported in Marianna, in Jackson County, Florida, Sheriff Lou Roberts told a news conference on Friday afternoon. "I've watched on television, thinking of what others have experienced, like in the Carolinas and Texas," Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey told reporters. "But it's different when you walk down and see this, and your emotions run away. This is just a small unique coastal community." The number of fatalities is expected to rise further as rescuers go door to door and comb through the rubble in Mexico Beach and other Florida coastal communities such as Port St. Joe and Panama City. "I think you're going to see it climb," Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said of the death count. "We still haven't gotten into some of the hardest-hit areas." The dead include at least eight people in Florida, five in Virginia, three in North Carolina and one in Georgia. FEMA crews have been using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to push a path through debris to allow rescuers to probe the rubble with specially trained search dogs. Michael blew ashore near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon as one of the most powerful storms in U.S. history, with winds of up o 155 miles per hour (250 km per hour). It pushed a wall of seawater inland, causing widespread flooding. The storm, which in less than two days grew from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, tore apart entire neighbourhoods in the Panhandle, reducing homes to naked concrete foundations or piles of wood and siding. NO PHONE, INTERNET Except for the emergency-911 system, authorities in Bay County, the epicentre of the disaster, were virtually without telephone or internet service until late in the day on Friday, making communications internally and with the public difficult. "We didn't have anything," said Ruth Corley, a spokeswoman for the Bay County Sheriff's Department. "We've been writing things down on pieces of paper. We're doing what we can with the minimal media that we have." She said local television stations were knocked off the air for two days, and authorities were relying on the radio station of the Gulf Coast State College to broadcast public service bulletins. She said search teams were going door-to-door looking for possible storm victims who may have been trapped or killed. Bay County officials have previously said 56 people chose to stay back in Mexico Beach and search and rescue teams were trying to account for them. Social media websites were filled with messages from people trying to reach missing family members in Florida's Bay and Gulf Counties. Locals offered to go to addresses to see if houses had survived or if residents were there. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided a website with satellite images for people to check on the condition of homes. REBUILD RIGHT FEMA's Long urged communities such as Mexico Beach, where many homes were obliterated by 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 meters) of storm surge, to rebuild to withstand future storms. "It's OK if you want to live on the coast or on top of a mountain that sees wildfires or whatever, but you have to build to a higher standard," he said. "If we're going to rebuild, do it right." By Friday morning the remnants of the storm were located about 275 miles (445 km) southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles (100 km) per hour. About one million homes and businesses were without power from Florida to Virginia on Friday, according to utility companies. It could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged parts of Florida. The number of people in emergency shelters was expected to swell to 20,000 across five states by Friday, said Brad Kieserman of the American Red Cross. The Coast Guard reported rescuing 129 people. Even as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors or the deceased, some residents of Mexico Beach were nervously trickling back on Friday, expressing hope the place, nicknamed "the Forgotten Coast," would not change too much as it rebuilds. "It was the perfect beach town. Not all of that commercialism," said Dottie Sinclair, 57, a nurse, adding a Subway fast-food restaurant was the only commercial chain. "I don't think it will ever be the same," said husband Danny Sinclair, 64, who is semi-retired. "People will just pack up and leave."

Hurricane death toll rises to 17 as search goes on in Florida

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-from-michael-seen-rising-as-florida-towns-remain-cut-off-171306">Death</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-from-michael-seen-rising-as-florida-towns-remain-cut-off-171306"> toll from Michael seen rising as Florida towns remain cut off</a>

The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/50-people-tested-positive-for-zika-virus-in-jaipur-rajasthan-171286">Zika virus scare: 51 people tested positive in Rajasthan</a>

Around 51&nbsp;people have been tested positive for Zika virus in Rajasthan's Jaipur district, news agency ANI reported on Saturday.&nbsp; According to reports, eighteen more people in Jaipur have been tested positive for Zika virus, taking the total number of cases to 50.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-12-killed-in-bomb-attack-on-afghan-election-rally-officials-171291">At least 12 killed in bomb attack on Afghan election rally: Officials</a>

A motorcyle carrying explosives blew up among supporters of an Afghan election candidate on Saturday, killing at least 12 people, officials said, in the latest violence to strike a political gathering.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-london-general-bajwa-discusses-indias-role-in-pak-afghan-tensions-171312">In London, General Bajwa discusses India's role in Pak-Afghan tensions</a>

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met UK's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Gareth Baley in London.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-mla-joins-ruling-bjp-in-chhattisgarh-171288">Ahead of elections in Chhattisgarh, Congress MLA joins ruling BJP</a>

In a major setback to the opposition Congress in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, its state working president and MLA Ramdayal Uike Saturday joined the ruling BJP.

Death toll from Michael seen rising as Florida towns remain cut off The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark.

Death toll from Michael seen rising as Florida towns remain cut off The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark. Zika virus scare: 51 people tested positive in Rajasthan Around 51 people have been tested positive for Zika virus in Rajasthan's Jaipur district, news agency ANI reported on Saturday. According to reports, eighteen more people in Jaipur have been tested positive for Zika virus, taking the total number of cases to 50. At least 12 killed in bomb attack on Afghan election rally: Officials A motorcyle carrying explosives blew up among supporters of an Afghan election candidate on Saturday, killing at least 12 people, officials said, in the latest violence to strike a political gathering. In London, General Bajwa discusses India's role in Pak-Afghan tensions Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met UK's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Gareth Baley in London. Ahead of elections in Chhattisgarh, Congress MLA joins ruling BJP In a major setback to the opposition Congress in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, its state working president and MLA Ramdayal Uike Saturday joined the ruling BJP.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark.

As of early on Saturday, state officials were reporting that at least 18 have been killed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

Rescue teams, hampered by power and telephone outages, were going door-to-door and using cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to hunt for people in the rubble in Mexico Beach and other Florida coastal communities, such as Port St. Joe and Panama City.

"We still haven’t gotten into some of the hardest-hit areas," said Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, noting that he expects to see the number of people killed climb.

The Houston-based volunteer search-and-rescue network CrowdSource Rescue said its teams were trying to find about 2,100 people either reported missing or stranded and in need of help in Florida, co-founder Matthew Marchetti said.

Social media websites were crowded with messages from those trying to reach missing families in Florida's Bay and Gulf Counties.

Marchetti said his volunteer search teams, consisting mostly of off-duty police officers and firefighters, had rescued or accounted for 345 others previously reported to CrowdSource Rescue.

Michael crashed ashore near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon as one of the most powerful storms in US&nbsp;history, with winds of up to 155 mph (250 kph). It pushed a wall of seawater inland, causing widespread flooding.

The tropical storm, which grew in less than two days into a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, tore apart entire neighborhoods in the Panhandle, reducing homes to naked concrete foundations or piles of wood and siding.

Dogs and bulldozers

FEMA crews have been using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to push a path through debris so rescuers can sift the rubble using specially trained search dogs.

More than 1,700 search and rescue workers have been deployed, Governor Rick Scott’s office said in a statement, including seven swift-water rescue teams and nearly 300 ambulances.

Except for the emergency 911 system, authorities in Bay County, the epicenter of the disaster, were virtually without telephone or internet service until late on Friday, making communications internally and with the public difficult.

Ruth Corley, a spokeswoman for the Bay County Sheriff's Department, said local television stations were knocked off the air for two days, and authorities were relying on the Gulf State College radio station to transmit public service bulletins.

By Friday morning the storm remnants were about 275 miles (445 km) southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph).

More than 940,000 homes and businesses on the US&nbsp;East Coast were without power and it could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged parts of Florida.

The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark.

The death toll was expected to rise this weekend in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael as hundreds remained unaccounted for along the Florida Panhandle where decimated communities remained cutoff and in the dark. As of early on Saturday, state officials were reporting that at least 18 have been killed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Rescue teams, hampered by power and telephone outages, were going door-to-door and using cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to hunt for people in the rubble in Mexico Beach and other Florida coastal communities, such as Port St. Joe and Panama City. "We still haven’t gotten into some of the hardest-hit areas," said Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, noting that he expects to see the number of people killed climb. The Houston-based volunteer search-and-rescue network CrowdSource Rescue said its teams were trying to find about 2,100 people either reported missing or stranded and in need of help in Florida, co-founder Matthew Marchetti said. Social media websites were crowded with messages from those trying to reach missing families in Florida's Bay and Gulf Counties. Marchetti said his volunteer search teams, consisting mostly of off-duty police officers and firefighters, had rescued or accounted for 345 others previously reported to CrowdSource Rescue. Michael crashed ashore near Mexico Beach on Wednesday afternoon as one of the most powerful storms in US history, with winds of up to 155 mph (250 kph). It pushed a wall of seawater inland, causing widespread flooding. The tropical storm, which grew in less than two days into a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, tore apart entire neighborhoods in the Panhandle, reducing homes to naked concrete foundations or piles of wood and siding. Dogs and bulldozers FEMA crews have been using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to push a path through debris so rescuers can sift the rubble using specially trained search dogs. More than 1,700 search and rescue workers have been deployed, Governor Rick Scott’s office said in a statement, including seven swift-water rescue teams and nearly 300 ambulances. Except for the emergency 911 system, authorities in Bay County, the epicenter of the disaster, were virtually without telephone or internet service until late on Friday, making communications internally and with the public difficult. Ruth Corley, a spokeswoman for the Bay County Sheriff's Department, said local television stations were knocked off the air for two days, and authorities were relying on the Gulf State College radio station to transmit public service bulletins. By Friday morning the storm remnants were about 275 miles (445 km) southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph). More than 940,000 homes and businesses on the US East Coast were without power and it could be weeks before power is restored to the most damaged parts of Florida.

Death toll from Michael seen rising as Florida towns remain cut off

Hurricane Michael claimed its first life after roaring ashore in Florida on Wednesday, flooding homes and streets and toppling trees and power lines in the Gulf of Mexico beachfront area where it made landfall as a raging Category 4 storm.

Florida officials said Michael, packing winds of 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour), was the most powerful storm to hit the state's northern Panhandle area in more than a century.

Michael had weakened to a Category 1, with maximum winds of 90 mph as of 8:00 pm Eastern time (0000 GMT), but that still left it an extremely dangerous storm.

Pictures and video from Mexico Beach -- a community of about 1,000 people where Michael made landfall around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT) -- showed scenes of devastation, with houses floating in flooded streets, some ripped from their foundations and missing roofs.

Roads were filled with piles of floating debris.

After being battered for nearly three hours by strong winds and heavy rains, roads in Panama City were virtually impassable and trees, satellite dishes and traffic lights lay in the streets.

Briefing President Donald Trump at the White House, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Brock Long said Michael was the most intense hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle since 1851.

"Along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation," Scott said, with storm surge posing the greatest danger.

"Water will come miles in shore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," he said.

"Those who stick around to experience storm surge don't typically live to tell about it," said FEMA's Long.

At a rally in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, Trump offered his "thoughts and prayers" to those in the path of the storm and said he would be visiting Florida soon.

"I'll be traveling to Florida very, very shortly and I just want to wish them all the best. Godspeed," Trump said.

Hundreds of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes and the governor told residents who had not done so to "hunker down and be careful."

Ken Graham, director of the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, said Michael is "unfortunately, a historical and incredibly dangerous and life-threatening situation."

Smith, in Gadsden County, said the situation was dangerous even for emergency personnel.

"We've been very cautious with sending our first responders out right now," she said.

- Just shy of Category 5 - 
Olivia Smith, public information officer for the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners, said there was "one hurricane-related fatality," adding that the incident was "debris-related. There was a tree involved."

Smith could not provide details on the victim.

The death, in an area west of state capital Tallahassee, was the first confirmed since Michael made landfall.

General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, said some Florida residents may have been surprised by the rapid growth of the storm.

"It really started as a tropical storm, and then it went to Category 1, then it was Category 2 and before you know it, it was Category 4," O'Shaughnessy said.

"Where that becomes a factor is with the evacuation of some of the local populations," he said. "We haven't seen as robust of an evacuation response from the civilian population that we have seen in other storms."

Several hours after the hurricane made landfall, the eye of the storm had moved out of the Panhandle and was just west of Albany, Georgia, the NHC said.

"Michael should weaken as it crosses the southeastern United States through Thursday," the NHC said.

Long, the head of FEMA, said many Florida buildings were not built to withstand a storm above the strength of a Category 3 hurricane on the five-level Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

As it came ashore, Michael was just shy of a Category 5 -- defined as a storm packing top sustained wind speeds of 157 mph or above.

- 'Leave NOW' - 
An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate.

The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee issued a dramatic appeal for people to comply with evacuation orders.

"Hurricane Michael is an unprecedented event and cannot be compared to any of our previous events. Do not risk your life, leave NOW if you were told to do so," it said.

Trump issued an emergency declaration for Florida, freeing up federal funds for relief operations and providing the assistance of FEMA, which has more than 3,000 people on the ground.

State officials issued disaster declarations in Alabama and Georgia and the storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina.

The Carolinas are still recovering from Hurricane Florence, which left dozens dead and is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in damage last month.

It made landfall on the coast as a Category 1 hurricane on September 14 and drenched some parts of the state with 40 inches (101 centimeters) of rain.

Last year saw a string of catastrophic storms batter the western Atlantic -- including Irma, Maria and Harvey, which caused a record-equaling $125 billion in damage when it flooded the Houston metropolitan area.

Scientists have long warned that global warming will make storms more destructive, and some say the evidence for this may already be visible.

bur-wd/mdl

Hurricane Michael claimed its first life after roaring ashore in Florida on Wednesday, flooding homes and streets and toppling trees and power lines in the Gulf of Mexico beachfront area where it made landfall as a raging Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Michael claimed its first life after roaring ashore in Florida on Wednesday, flooding homes and streets and toppling trees and power lines in the Gulf of Mexico beachfront area where it made landfall as a raging Category 4 storm. Florida officials said Michael, packing winds of 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour), was the most powerful storm to hit the state's northern Panhandle area in more than a century. Michael had weakened to a Category 1, with maximum winds of 90 mph as of 8:00 pm Eastern time (0000 GMT), but that still left it an extremely dangerous storm. Pictures and video from Mexico Beach -- a community of about 1,000 people where Michael made landfall around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT) -- showed scenes of devastation, with houses floating in flooded streets, some ripped from their foundations and missing roofs. Roads were filled with piles of floating debris. After being battered for nearly three hours by strong winds and heavy rains, roads in Panama City were virtually impassable and trees, satellite dishes and traffic lights lay in the streets. Briefing President Donald Trump at the White House, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Brock Long said Michael was the most intense hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle since 1851. "Along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation," Scott said, with storm surge posing the greatest danger. "Water will come miles in shore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," he said. "Those who stick around to experience storm surge don't typically live to tell about it," said FEMA's Long. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, Trump offered his "thoughts and prayers" to those in the path of the storm and said he would be visiting Florida soon. "I'll be traveling to Florida very, very shortly and I just want to wish them all the best. Godspeed," Trump said. Hundreds of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes and the governor told residents who had not done so to "hunker down and be careful." Ken Graham, director of the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, said Michael is "unfortunately, a historical and incredibly dangerous and life-threatening situation." Smith, in Gadsden County, said the situation was dangerous even for emergency personnel. "We've been very cautious with sending our first responders out right now," she said. - Just shy of Category 5 - Olivia Smith, public information officer for the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners, said there was "one hurricane-related fatality," adding that the incident was "debris-related. There was a tree involved." Smith could not provide details on the victim. The death, in an area west of state capital Tallahassee, was the first confirmed since Michael made landfall. General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, said some Florida residents may have been surprised by the rapid growth of the storm. "It really started as a tropical storm, and then it went to Category 1, then it was Category 2 and before you know it, it was Category 4," O'Shaughnessy said. "Where that becomes a factor is with the evacuation of some of the local populations," he said. "We haven't seen as robust of an evacuation response from the civilian population that we have seen in other storms." Several hours after the hurricane made landfall, the eye of the storm had moved out of the Panhandle and was just west of Albany, Georgia, the NHC said. "Michael should weaken as it crosses the southeastern United States through Thursday," the NHC said. Long, the head of FEMA, said many Florida buildings were not built to withstand a storm above the strength of a Category 3 hurricane on the five-level Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. As it came ashore, Michael was just shy of a Category 5 -- defined as a storm packing top sustained wind speeds of 157 mph or above. - 'Leave NOW' - An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate. The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee issued a dramatic appeal for people to comply with evacuation orders. "Hurricane Michael is an unprecedented event and cannot be compared to any of our previous events. Do not risk your life, leave NOW if you were told to do so," it said. Trump issued an emergency declaration for Florida, freeing up federal funds for relief operations and providing the assistance of FEMA, which has more than 3,000 people on the ground. State officials issued disaster declarations in Alabama and Georgia and the storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina. The Carolinas are still recovering from Hurricane Florence, which left dozens dead and is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in damage last month. It made landfall on the coast as a Category 1 hurricane on September 14 and drenched some parts of the state with 40 inches (101 centimeters) of rain. Last year saw a string of catastrophic storms batter the western Atlantic -- including Irma, Maria and Harvey, which caused a record-equaling $125 billion in damage when it flooded the Houston metropolitan area. Scientists have long warned that global warming will make storms more destructive, and some say the evidence for this may already be visible. bur-wd/mdl

Monstrous Hurricane Michael tears into Florida, kills one

Hurricane Michael, the fiercest storm to hit Florida in a quarter century and the third-most powerful ever to strike the US&nbsp;mainland, roared into the state's Gulf coast on Wednesday with tree-snapping winds, towering waves and torrential rains.

Michael, whose rapid intensification as it churned north over the Gulf of Mexico caught many by surprise, made landfall early in the afternoon near Mexico Beach, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Panama City in Florida's Panhandle region, with top sustained winds reaching 155 miles per hour (249 kph).

The storm came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Its sustained winds were just 2 mph (3.2 kph) shy of an extremely rare Category 5.

As predicted, the storm was downgraded hours later to a still-formidable Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and higher gusts as it pushed inland to the Alabama-Georgia border.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said that as of nightfall, about five hours after Michael struck land, there were no confirmed reports of storm fatalities.

Causing major disruptions to oil and gas production in the Gulf even before its arrival, the storm was forecast to unleash waves as high as 14 feet (4.3 meters) above normal sea levels in some areas, the National Hurricane Center said.

“My God, it’s scary. I didn’t expect all this,” said Bill Manning, 63, a grocery clerk who fled his camper van in Panama City for safer quarters in a hotel, only to see the electricity there go out. "Panama City, I don’t know if there will be much left."

Television news footage showed floodwaters up to the roofs of many homes in Mexico Beach. The fate of about 280 residents who authorities said defied evacuation orders was unknown.

Twenty miles to the south, floodwaters were more than 7-1/2 feet (2.3 meters) deep near Apalachicola, a town of about 2,300 residents, National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. Wind damage was also widespread.

"There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city," Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said on Tuesday that an estimated 500,000 Florida residents had been ordered or urged to seek higher ground before the storm in 20 counties spanning a 200-mile (320-km) stretch of shoreline.

But Brad Kieserman of the American Red Cross said Wednesday that as many as 320,000 people on Florida's Gulf Coast had disregarded mandatory or voluntary evacuation notices.

An estimated 6,000 evacuees took cover in emergency shelters, most of them in Florida, and that number was expected to swell to 20,000 across five states by week's end, Kieserman said.

Even before Michael made full landfall, it was whipping trees with its winds and flooding the town of Port St. Joe, just south of Mexico Beach.

"It feels like you don't know when the next tree is going to fall on top of you because its blowing so ferociously," said Port St. Joe Mayor Bo Patterson. "It's very, very scary. We have trees being uprooted, heavy, heavy rain."

'Jaw-dropping strength'

Patterson said about 2,500 of the town's 3,500 people had stayed put, including about 100 in a beachside area who ignored a mandatory evacuation order. "This happened so quickly, we weren't exactly prepared," he said.

FEMA head Brock Long said early evacuation efforts in the area were slow.

Michael grew from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane over the course of about 40 hours.

"Satellite images of Michael’s evolution on Tuesday night were, in a word, jaw-dropping," wrote Bob Henson, a meteorologist with weather site Weather Underground.

With minimum barometric pressure recorded at 919 millibars, a measure of hurricane strength, Michael stood as the strongest storm ever to hit Florida's Panhandle and the most intense anywhere in the state since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Michael also ranked as the third-most powerful storm on record to make landfall in the continental United States, after Hurricane Camille on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969 and the so-called Labor Day hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for all of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster responses.

At mid-afternoon, about 192,000 homes and business customers were already without power in Florida alone, with more outages reported in Georgia and Alabama, utility companies said.

Michael was forecast to move across southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia on Wednesday night.

Helen Neal, 88, and her husband, JW&nbsp;Neal, 87, preferred to take their chances in a hotel rather than stay in their two-story Panama City Beach beachfront house about a mile away.

"We just finished renovating and updating," she said. "We’re kind of nervous. God willing, we’ll still have some place."

About 3,500 Florida National Guard troops were deployed to assist with evacuations and storm recovery, along with more than 1,000 search-and-rescue personnel, Scott said.

NHC's Graham warned that the storm would continue to pack tropical storm-force winds when it reached the Carolinas, still reeling from severe flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence last month. Up to a foot (30 cm) of rainfall was forecast for some areas from Michael.

Hurricane Michael, the fiercest storm to hit Florida in a quarter century and the third-most powerful ever to strike the US mainland, roared into the state's Gulf coast on Wednesday with tree-snapping winds, towering waves and torrential rains.

Hurricane Michael, the fiercest storm to hit Florida in a quarter century and the third-most powerful ever to strike the US mainland, roared into the state's Gulf coast on Wednesday with tree-snapping winds, towering waves and torrential rains. Michael, whose rapid intensification as it churned north over the Gulf of Mexico caught many by surprise, made landfall early in the afternoon near Mexico Beach, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Panama City in Florida's Panhandle region, with top sustained winds reaching 155 miles per hour (249 kph). The storm came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Its sustained winds were just 2 mph (3.2 kph) shy of an extremely rare Category 5. As predicted, the storm was downgraded hours later to a still-formidable Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and higher gusts as it pushed inland to the Alabama-Georgia border. Florida Governor Rick Scott said that as of nightfall, about five hours after Michael struck land, there were no confirmed reports of storm fatalities. Causing major disruptions to oil and gas production in the Gulf even before its arrival, the storm was forecast to unleash waves as high as 14 feet (4.3 meters) above normal sea levels in some areas, the National Hurricane Center said. “My God, it’s scary. I didn’t expect all this,” said Bill Manning, 63, a grocery clerk who fled his camper van in Panama City for safer quarters in a hotel, only to see the electricity there go out. "Panama City, I don’t know if there will be much left." Television news footage showed floodwaters up to the roofs of many homes in Mexico Beach. The fate of about 280 residents who authorities said defied evacuation orders was unknown. Twenty miles to the south, floodwaters were more than 7-1/2 feet (2.3 meters) deep near Apalachicola, a town of about 2,300 residents, National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. Wind damage was also widespread. "There are so many downed power lines and trees that it's almost impossible to get through the city," Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said on Tuesday that an estimated 500,000 Florida residents had been ordered or urged to seek higher ground before the storm in 20 counties spanning a 200-mile (320-km) stretch of shoreline. But Brad Kieserman of the American Red Cross said Wednesday that as many as 320,000 people on Florida's Gulf Coast had disregarded mandatory or voluntary evacuation notices. An estimated 6,000 evacuees took cover in emergency shelters, most of them in Florida, and that number was expected to swell to 20,000 across five states by week's end, Kieserman said. Even before Michael made full landfall, it was whipping trees with its winds and flooding the town of Port St. Joe, just south of Mexico Beach. "It feels like you don't know when the next tree is going to fall on top of you because its blowing so ferociously," said Port St. Joe Mayor Bo Patterson. "It's very, very scary. We have trees being uprooted, heavy, heavy rain." 'Jaw-dropping strength' Patterson said about 2,500 of the town's 3,500 people had stayed put, including about 100 in a beachside area who ignored a mandatory evacuation order. "This happened so quickly, we weren't exactly prepared," he said. FEMA head Brock Long said early evacuation efforts in the area were slow. Michael grew from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane over the course of about 40 hours. "Satellite images of Michael’s evolution on Tuesday night were, in a word, jaw-dropping," wrote Bob Henson, a meteorologist with weather site Weather Underground. With minimum barometric pressure recorded at 919 millibars, a measure of hurricane strength, Michael stood as the strongest storm ever to hit Florida's Panhandle and the most intense anywhere in the state since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Michael also ranked as the third-most powerful storm on record to make landfall in the continental United States, after Hurricane Camille on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969 and the so-called Labor Day hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for all of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster responses. At mid-afternoon, about 192,000 homes and business customers were already without power in Florida alone, with more outages reported in Georgia and Alabama, utility companies said. Michael was forecast to move across southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia on Wednesday night. Helen Neal, 88, and her husband, JW Neal, 87, preferred to take their chances in a hotel rather than stay in their two-story Panama City Beach beachfront house about a mile away. "We just finished renovating and updating," she said. "We’re kind of nervous. God willing, we’ll still have some place." About 3,500 Florida National Guard troops were deployed to assist with evacuations and storm recovery, along with more than 1,000 search-and-rescue personnel, Scott said. NHC's Graham warned that the storm would continue to pack tropical storm-force winds when it reached the Carolinas, still reeling from severe flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence last month. Up to a foot (30 cm) of rainfall was forecast for some areas from Michael.

Florida battered by record-breaking Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-michael-turns-into-a-category-4-as-florida-braces-for-monster-storm-170631">Also Read:&nbsp;Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm</a>

"Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update.

The National Hurricane Center describing it as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 4 storm.

It&nbsp;is expected to be the worst hurricane in history in the area. Hurricane Michael was carrying winds as high as 150 mph.&nbsp;

The hurricane has already battered Florida Panhandle city of Apalachicola with rain and wind.

Florida Panhandle is located between Alabama and Georgia on a narrow strip of land in Gulf of Mexico. Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal has already declared a state of emergency for 108 counties in the state although mandatory evacuation orders haven't been issued.

However, residents along the coast in Florida have been ordered to leave their homes.&nbsp;

The last major hurricane, a storm of Category 3 or above, to hit the Panhandle was Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane center data.

"Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in a century," Governor Rick Scott said, adding "along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation."

The Florida governor said those who hadn't evacuated, it was already too late for them.

"The National Hurricane Center is expecting storm surge to be between nine and 13 feet (2.7-3.6 meters)," he added. "Water will come miles inshore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," the governor said.

"The time to evacuate the coastal areas has come and gone... Hunker down, and be careful," he said.&nbsp;

The National Hurricane Centre said Hurricane Micahel would bring wind speeds upto 230 kilometers per hour with waves up to 14 feet high. The storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday. Also Read: Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm "Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update.

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, US forecasters said on Wednesday. Also Read: Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm "Hurricane Michael has made landfall just northwest of Mexico beach, Florida," the hurricane center said in its latest update. The National Hurricane Center describing it as a "potentially catastrophic" Category 4 storm. It is expected to be the worst hurricane in history in the area. Hurricane Michael was carrying winds as high as 150 mph. The hurricane has already battered Florida Panhandle city of Apalachicola with rain and wind. Florida Panhandle is located between Alabama and Georgia on a narrow strip of land in Gulf of Mexico. Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal has already declared a state of emergency for 108 counties in the state although mandatory evacuation orders haven't been issued. However, residents along the coast in Florida have been ordered to leave their homes. The last major hurricane, a storm of Category 3 or above, to hit the Panhandle was Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane center data. "Hurricane Michael is forecast to be the most destructive storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in a century," Governor Rick Scott said, adding "along our coast, communities are going to see unimaginable devastation." The Florida governor said those who hadn't evacuated, it was already too late for them. "The National Hurricane Center is expecting storm surge to be between nine and 13 feet (2.7-3.6 meters)," he added. "Water will come miles inshore and could easily rise over the roofs of houses," the governor said. "The time to evacuate the coastal areas has come and gone... Hunker down, and be careful," he said. The National Hurricane Centre said Hurricane Micahel would bring wind speeds upto 230 kilometers per hour with waves up to 14 feet high. The storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to North and South Carolina which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Michael makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Michael intensified Tuesday as it barreled toward the Florida coast, becoming a category 3 major storm as the governor of the southern US state warned residents to prepare immediately for a "monstrous" hit.

Michael was now packing winds of 120 miles per hour (195 kilometers per hour) as it aimed for the Florida panhandle, the finger-shaped strip of land on the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm was expected to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon, bringing hurricane force winds, a "life-threatening storm surge" and heavy rainfall.

"Hurricane Michael is a monstrous storm and the forecast keeps getting more dangerous," said Florida Governor Rick Scott, who has activated 2,500 members of the National Guard in response. "The time to prepare is now.

"Hurricane Michael poses a deadly threat," Scott said, warning that it could be the "most destructive storm to hit the Florida panhandle in decades."

Panama City Beach fire department chief Larry Couch urged residents to evacuate.

"If they decide to stay, there will be a point where we can't get to them," Couch said. "We will shut down operations at a certain point and when we do that, they're on their own.

"Be safe and leave," he said.

President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for the state, freeing up federal funds for relief operations and providing the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"It is imperative that you heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!" Trump tweeted.

State officials also issued disaster declarations in Alabama and Georgia, both of which are also expected to feel the impact from the storm.

As of 5:00 pm Eastern time (2100 GMT), Michael was about 295 miles (470 kilometers) south of Panama City and moving north at 12 miles per hour (19 kph).

Flash flood, tornado warnings 
The NHC said some areas of the Florida coast could expect storm surge of nine to 13 feet, and as much as a foot of rain.

The heavy rains could cause flash floods, the NHC said, and spawn tornados in northwestern Florida.

Some 120,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders in Bay County in the panhandle, a low-lying area of beachfront resorts and retirement communities.

Michael was forecast to have the power to uproot trees, block roads and knock out power for days when it hits Florida. It is expected to weaken as it moves up into the southeastern United States.

The storm is a category three out of five on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Drivers waited in long lines at gas stations and residents hurried to fill sandbags, while tolls were suspended on some roads to aid movement ahead of the storm's landfall.

"Since 6:00 am it's been backed up. We're just now running out of regular (gasoline)," Danny Hess, an employee at a gas station in Panama City, told local WJHG television.

The Carolinas are still recovering from Hurricane Florence, which left dozens dead and is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in damage last month.

It made landfall on the coast as a Category 1 hurricane on September 14 and drenched some parts of the state with 40 inches of rain.

Last year saw a string of catastrophic storms batter the western Atlantic -- including Irma, Maria and Harvey, which caused a record-equaling $125 billion in damage when it flooded the Houston metropolitan area.

Scientists have long warned that global warming will make storms more destructive, and some say the evidence for this may already be visible.

At their most fearsome, these low-pressure weather fronts pack more power than the energy released by the atomic bomb that levelled Hiroshima.

Hurricane Michael intensified Tuesday as it barreled toward the Florida coast, becoming a category 3 major storm as the governor of the southern US state warned residents to prepare immediately for a "monstrous" hit.

Hurricane Michael intensified Tuesday as it barreled toward the Florida coast, becoming a category 3 major storm as the governor of the southern US state warned residents to prepare immediately for a "monstrous" hit. Michael was now packing winds of 120 miles per hour (195 kilometers per hour) as it aimed for the Florida panhandle, the finger-shaped strip of land on the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm was expected to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon, bringing hurricane force winds, a "life-threatening storm surge" and heavy rainfall. "Hurricane Michael is a monstrous storm and the forecast keeps getting more dangerous," said Florida Governor Rick Scott, who has activated 2,500 members of the National Guard in response. "The time to prepare is now. "Hurricane Michael poses a deadly threat," Scott said, warning that it could be the "most destructive storm to hit the Florida panhandle in decades." Panama City Beach fire department chief Larry Couch urged residents to evacuate. "If they decide to stay, there will be a point where we can't get to them," Couch said. "We will shut down operations at a certain point and when we do that, they're on their own. "Be safe and leave," he said. President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for the state, freeing up federal funds for relief operations and providing the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "It is imperative that you heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!" Trump tweeted. State officials also issued disaster declarations in Alabama and Georgia, both of which are also expected to feel the impact from the storm. As of 5:00 pm Eastern time (2100 GMT), Michael was about 295 miles (470 kilometers) south of Panama City and moving north at 12 miles per hour (19 kph). Flash flood, tornado warnings The NHC said some areas of the Florida coast could expect storm surge of nine to 13 feet, and as much as a foot of rain. The heavy rains could cause flash floods, the NHC said, and spawn tornados in northwestern Florida. Some 120,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders in Bay County in the panhandle, a low-lying area of beachfront resorts and retirement communities. Michael was forecast to have the power to uproot trees, block roads and knock out power for days when it hits Florida. It is expected to weaken as it moves up into the southeastern United States. The storm is a category three out of five on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Drivers waited in long lines at gas stations and residents hurried to fill sandbags, while tolls were suspended on some roads to aid movement ahead of the storm's landfall. "Since 6:00 am it's been backed up. We're just now running out of regular (gasoline)," Danny Hess, an employee at a gas station in Panama City, told local WJHG television. The Carolinas are still recovering from Hurricane Florence, which left dozens dead and is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in damage last month. It made landfall on the coast as a Category 1 hurricane on September 14 and drenched some parts of the state with 40 inches of rain. Last year saw a string of catastrophic storms batter the western Atlantic -- including Irma, Maria and Harvey, which caused a record-equaling $125 billion in damage when it flooded the Houston metropolitan area. Scientists have long warned that global warming will make storms more destructive, and some say the evidence for this may already be visible. At their most fearsome, these low-pressure weather fronts pack more power than the energy released by the atomic bomb that levelled Hiroshima.

Hurricane Michael turns into category 3 storm as it barrels towards Florida

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-michael-turns-into-category-3-storm-as-it-barrels-towards-florida-170551">Hurricane Michael strengthened</a> into a Category 4 storm early on Wednesday before it was expected to plow into Florida's Gulf shore with towering waves and roof-shredding winds as 500,000 people were under evacuation orders and advisories.

Hurricane Michael was packing winds of up to 130 miles per hour (210 km per hour), hours before it was set to make landfall on Florida's Panhandle or Florida's Big Bend where it potentially could unleash devastating waves as high as 13 feet (4 meters), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

"THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to evacuate before conditions start deteriorating within the next few hours," said Florida Governor Rick Scott in a Tweet early on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster responses.

Michael gathered greater strength over warm Gulf of Mexico waters throughout the day on Tuesday as it jumped from a Category 2 to Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale.

The last NHC report said the fast-moving storm was about 180 miles (325 km) from Panama City, Florida.

Winds as strong as Michael is producing can inflict substantial damage to roofs and walls of even well-constructed homes, according to the National Weather Service.

NHC Director Ken Graham said Michael represented a "textbook case" of a hurricane system growing stronger as it drew near shore, in contrast to Hurricane Florence, which struck North Carolina last month after weakening in a slow, halting approach.

Hurricane-force winds extend about 45 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching 175 miles, the NHC said.

The storm is likely to dump prodigious amounts of rain over Florida, Alabama and Georgia, as well as the Carolinas - still reeling from post-Florence flooding - and into Virginia. Up to a foot of rainfall (30 cm) is forecast for some areas.

The region should brace for "major infrastructure damage," specifically to electricity distribution, wastewater treatment systems and transportation networks, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told reporters on a conference call.

Byard said an estimated 500,000 people were under evacuation orders and advisories in Florida, where residents and tourists were fleeing low-lying areas in at least 20 counties stretching along 200 miles (322 km) of shore in the Panhandle and adjacent Big Bend region.

Among them was Betty Early, 75, a retiree who joined about 300 fellow evacuees huddled on makeshift bedrolls of blankets and collapsed cardboard boxes at an elementary school converted into an American Red Cross shelter in Panama City, near the storm's expected landfall.

She was unsure how well her old, wood-framed apartment block would hold up. "I'm blessed to have a place to come," she told Reuters. "My greatest concern is not having electricity, and living on a fixed income, losing my food."

"THIS STORM COULD KILL YOU"

A hurricane warning was posted along more than 300 miles (483 km) of the coast from the Florida-Alabama border south to the Suwannee River.

"If you don't follow warnings from officials this storm could kill you," said Scott, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate in November's congressional elections.

While the swiftly moving storm is not expected to linger over Florida for long, widespread heavy downpours will likely track inland to flood-stricken areas of the Carolinas even as rain-gorged rivers there begin to recede, National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Widelski told the conference call.

Some of the storm's most significant early impact was to offshore energy production. U.S. producers in the Gulf cut oil production by about 40 percent and natural gas output by 28 percent on Tuesday, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said.

Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties, mostly encompassing rural areas known for small tourist cities, beaches, wildlife reserves and Tallahassee, the state capital.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for 92 counties in his state.

About 2,500 National Guard troops were deployed to assist with evacuations and storm preparations, and more than 4,000 others were on standby. Some 17,000 utility restoration workers were also on call.

In Panhandle counties, most state offices, schools and universities were closed for the rest of the week. Lines at gasoline stations grew as people left. Those who stayed emptied grocery store shelves of water and other supplies.

The last major hurricane to hit the Panhandle was Hurricane Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane centre data.

Torrential downpours and flash flooding from the storm over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America.

Hurricane Michael strengthened into a Category 4 storm early on Wednesday before it was expected to plow into Florida's Gulf shore with towering waves and roof-shredding winds as 500,000 people were under evacuation orders and advisories.

Hurricane Michael strengthened into a Category 4 storm early on Wednesday before it was expected to plow into Florida's Gulf shore with towering waves and roof-shredding winds as 500,000 people were under evacuation orders and advisories. Hurricane Michael was packing winds of up to 130 miles per hour (210 km per hour), hours before it was set to make landfall on Florida's Panhandle or Florida's Big Bend where it potentially could unleash devastating waves as high as 13 feet (4 meters), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned. "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to evacuate before conditions start deteriorating within the next few hours," said Florida Governor Rick Scott in a Tweet early on Wednesday. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster responses. Michael gathered greater strength over warm Gulf of Mexico waters throughout the day on Tuesday as it jumped from a Category 2 to Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale. The last NHC report said the fast-moving storm was about 180 miles (325 km) from Panama City, Florida. Winds as strong as Michael is producing can inflict substantial damage to roofs and walls of even well-constructed homes, according to the National Weather Service. NHC Director Ken Graham said Michael represented a "textbook case" of a hurricane system growing stronger as it drew near shore, in contrast to Hurricane Florence, which struck North Carolina last month after weakening in a slow, halting approach. Hurricane-force winds extend about 45 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching 175 miles, the NHC said. The storm is likely to dump prodigious amounts of rain over Florida, Alabama and Georgia, as well as the Carolinas - still reeling from post-Florence flooding - and into Virginia. Up to a foot of rainfall (30 cm) is forecast for some areas. The region should brace for "major infrastructure damage," specifically to electricity distribution, wastewater treatment systems and transportation networks, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told reporters on a conference call. Byard said an estimated 500,000 people were under evacuation orders and advisories in Florida, where residents and tourists were fleeing low-lying areas in at least 20 counties stretching along 200 miles (322 km) of shore in the Panhandle and adjacent Big Bend region. Among them was Betty Early, 75, a retiree who joined about 300 fellow evacuees huddled on makeshift bedrolls of blankets and collapsed cardboard boxes at an elementary school converted into an American Red Cross shelter in Panama City, near the storm's expected landfall. She was unsure how well her old, wood-framed apartment block would hold up. "I'm blessed to have a place to come," she told Reuters. "My greatest concern is not having electricity, and living on a fixed income, losing my food." "THIS STORM COULD KILL YOU" A hurricane warning was posted along more than 300 miles (483 km) of the coast from the Florida-Alabama border south to the Suwannee River. "If you don't follow warnings from officials this storm could kill you," said Scott, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate in November's congressional elections. While the swiftly moving storm is not expected to linger over Florida for long, widespread heavy downpours will likely track inland to flood-stricken areas of the Carolinas even as rain-gorged rivers there begin to recede, National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Widelski told the conference call. Some of the storm's most significant early impact was to offshore energy production. U.S. producers in the Gulf cut oil production by about 40 percent and natural gas output by 28 percent on Tuesday, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said. Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties, mostly encompassing rural areas known for small tourist cities, beaches, wildlife reserves and Tallahassee, the state capital. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for 92 counties in his state. About 2,500 National Guard troops were deployed to assist with evacuations and storm preparations, and more than 4,000 others were on standby. Some 17,000 utility restoration workers were also on call. In Panhandle counties, most state offices, schools and universities were closed for the rest of the week. Lines at gasoline stations grew as people left. Those who stayed emptied grocery store shelves of water and other supplies. The last major hurricane to hit the Panhandle was Hurricane Dennis in 2005, according to hurricane centre data. Torrential downpours and flash flooding from the storm over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America.

Hurricane Michael turns into a Category 4 as Florida braces for monster storm

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Michael was packing sustained winds of up to 85 miles per hour (140 kph) and gaining strength as it skirted past Cuba's western tip en route to a likely Wednesday landfall as the most powerful storm to strike the Florida Panhandle in at least a decade.

Currently ranked as a Category 1 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale, Michael could grow into a Category 3, becoming the second major hurricane in the Atlantic basin this year following Florence last month, forecasters said.

The storm is expected to unleash coastal storm surges of up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) along Florida's Panhandle and dump as much as a foot (30 cm) of rain across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.

The NHC warned that both could trigger deadly flooding and that residents within the hurricane warning zone should likewise "prepare for life-threatening winds."

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend regions. Mandatory evacuations were under way in coastal areas, with 1,250 National Guard soldiers aiding the process and more than 4,000 troops placed on standby, Scott tweeted.

"The FL panhandle needs to be prepared for a direct hit with sustained hurricane force winds," Scott wrote on Twitter on Monday.

In Gulf County alone, the first to begin ordering residents of low-lying areas to higher ground, mandatory evacuation notices encompassed an estimated 3,800 homes, said Jessica Sasich of the county's emergency operations centre.

Many are located in the coastal town of Port St. Joe, the county's largest municipality, lying directly in the hurricane's projected path, she said.

In neighbouring Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for the entire state on Monday in anticipation of wind damage, heavy rains and power outages.

Michael kills 13 in Central America

As the storm moved north it battered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba with drenching rains and winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph), the Miami-based hurricane centre said.

Torrential downpours and flash-flooding over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America after Michael formed off the coast of northern Honduras.

In Florida, state offices, schools and universities were set to close on Tuesday through the end of the week in panhandle counties. Some beach town residents were left to decide on their own for the time being whether to leave their homes.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, but I know some of my staff are going," said Dave Trepanier, owner of Firefly, a restaurant a block from the beach in Panama City, Bay County, an area where the hurricane is expected to come ashore.

Lines at gasoline stations were growing long in Panama City as people prepared to leave areas under mandatory evacuation, Trepanier said.

Hurricane Michael would be the first major hurricane to hit the panhandle since Hurricane Dennis in 2005, which made landfall near Pensacola, according to hurricane centre data.

After striking Florida, Michael is forecast to move up the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday ploughing through the Carolinas, still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month.

Energy companies halted nearly a fifth of Gulf of Mexico oil production and evacuated personnel from 10 platforms on Monday.

The Gulf of Mexico is home to 17 per cent of daily U.S. crude oil output and 5 per cent of daily natural gas output, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains. Michael was packing sustained winds of up to 85 miles per hour (140 kph) and gaining strength as it skirted past Cuba's western tip en route to a likely Wednesday landfall as the most powerful storm to strike the Florida Panhandle in at least a decade. Currently ranked as a Category 1 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale, Michael could grow into a Category 3, becoming the second major hurricane in the Atlantic basin this year following Florence last month, forecasters said. The storm is expected to unleash coastal storm surges of up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) along Florida's Panhandle and dump as much as a foot (30 cm) of rain across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The NHC warned that both could trigger deadly flooding and that residents within the hurricane warning zone should likewise "prepare for life-threatening winds." Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend regions. Mandatory evacuations were under way in coastal areas, with 1,250 National Guard soldiers aiding the process and more than 4,000 troops placed on standby, Scott tweeted. "The FL panhandle needs to be prepared for a direct hit with sustained hurricane force winds," Scott wrote on Twitter on Monday. In Gulf County alone, the first to begin ordering residents of low-lying areas to higher ground, mandatory evacuation notices encompassed an estimated 3,800 homes, said Jessica Sasich of the county's emergency operations centre. Many are located in the coastal town of Port St. Joe, the county's largest municipality, lying directly in the hurricane's projected path, she said. In neighbouring Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for the entire state on Monday in anticipation of wind damage, heavy rains and power outages. Michael kills 13 in Central America As the storm moved north it battered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba with drenching rains and winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph), the Miami-based hurricane centre said. Torrential downpours and flash-flooding over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America after Michael formed off the coast of northern Honduras. In Florida, state offices, schools and universities were set to close on Tuesday through the end of the week in panhandle counties. Some beach town residents were left to decide on their own for the time being whether to leave their homes. "I haven't made up my mind yet, but I know some of my staff are going," said Dave Trepanier, owner of Firefly, a restaurant a block from the beach in Panama City, Bay County, an area where the hurricane is expected to come ashore. Lines at gasoline stations were growing long in Panama City as people prepared to leave areas under mandatory evacuation, Trepanier said. Hurricane Michael would be the first major hurricane to hit the panhandle since Hurricane Dennis in 2005, which made landfall near Pensacola, according to hurricane centre data. After striking Florida, Michael is forecast to move up the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday ploughing through the Carolinas, still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month. Energy companies halted nearly a fifth of Gulf of Mexico oil production and evacuated personnel from 10 platforms on Monday. The Gulf of Mexico is home to 17 per cent of daily U.S. crude oil output and 5 per cent of daily natural gas output, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Hurricane Michael menaces Florida after fatal flooding in Central America

Cuba's western coast was lashed by Hurricane Michael as it made its way towards Florida while moving away from the Gulf of Mexico.

Authorities have already alerted people to evacuate from coastal areas in Florida Panhandle which is a beach resort front as wind speed picked up to 55 km per hour.

The National Hurricane Center(NHC) said the hurricane could grow into a Category 3 storm as it makes landfall in Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. The NHC has warned people living along Florida's coast to Alabama and &nbsp;Suwannee River in Florida to be prepared for hurricane-like conditions.

"Life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of the coasts of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend and Nature Coast, and a storm surge warning is in effect for these areas," the NHC said.

The NHC has forecast at least 30 cms of rain in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

"Hurricane Michael is a monster storm and it keeps getting more dangerous. We’re 12 hours away from seeing impacts," Florida Governor Rick Scott said, adding,"the time to prepare is now."

As the hurricane made its way, oil production was hit as companies halted operations in the Gulf of Mexico which resulted in oil prices going up in the US.

"You will see damage to infrastructure, you will see power outages, and services that we are used to will be interrupted due to Hurricane Michael," Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeff Byard said.

School and offices have been ordered to remain closed in Florida&nbsp;Panhandle at the end of the week when the hurricane is expected to cause destruction in the state.

After Florida, Hurricane Michael is forecast to move up the south-east United States on Wednesday and Thursday, passing through the Carolinas, which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump&nbsp;said the federal government was ready and urged residents to be prepared for the worst. "Can you believe it? It looks like another big one," he said.

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FLORIDA - It is imperative that you heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneMichael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneMichael</a> <a href="https://t.co/VP6PBXfzm9">https://t.co/VP6PBXfzm9</a> <a href="https://t.co/aKmaDNgZve">pic.twitter.com/aKmaDNgZve</a>
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Cuba's western coast was lashed by Hurricane Michael as it made its way towards Florida while moving away from the Gulf of Mexico. Authorities have already alerted people to evacuate from coastal areas in Florida Panhandle which is a beach resort front as wind speed picked up to 55 km per hour.

Cuba's western coast was lashed by Hurricane Michael as it made its way towards Florida while moving away from the Gulf of Mexico. Authorities have already alerted people to evacuate from coastal areas in Florida Panhandle which is a beach resort front as wind speed picked up to 55 km per hour. The National Hurricane Center(NHC) said the hurricane could grow into a Category 3 storm as it makes landfall in Florida Panhandle on Wednesday. The NHC has warned people living along Florida's coast to Alabama and Suwannee River in Florida to be prepared for hurricane-like conditions. "Life-threatening storm surge is likely along portions of the coasts of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend and Nature Coast, and a storm surge warning is in effect for these areas," the NHC said. The NHC has forecast at least 30 cms of rain in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. "Hurricane Michael is a monster storm and it keeps getting more dangerous. We’re 12 hours away from seeing impacts," Florida Governor Rick Scott said, adding,"the time to prepare is now." As the hurricane made its way, oil production was hit as companies halted operations in the Gulf of Mexico which resulted in oil prices going up in the US. "You will see damage to infrastructure, you will see power outages, and services that we are used to will be interrupted due to Hurricane Michael," Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jeff Byard said. School and offices have been ordered to remain closed in Florida Panhandle at the end of the week when the hurricane is expected to cause destruction in the state. After Florida, Hurricane Michael is forecast to move up the south-east United States on Wednesday and Thursday, passing through the Carolinas, which is still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month. President Donald Trump said the federal government was ready and urged residents to be prepared for the worst. "Can you believe it? It looks like another big one," he said. FLORIDA - It is imperative that you heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE! #HurricaneMichael https://t.co/VP6PBXfzm9 pic.twitter.com/aKmaDNgZve — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2018 ×

Watch: After lashing Cuba, Hurricane Michael threatens southern US

After storm Alberto lashed in the western regions of Cuba on Sunday, it is now making its way to Florida in the United States with forecasters saying that it could bring life-threatening flooding to Southern coastal states.

Visitors and residents in Florida's Panhandle are keeping a lookout for subtropical storm Alberto which is expected to slam into the region about mid-afternoon Monday (May 28), and wallop parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains, blasting winds and possible tornadoes.&nbsp

Thousands of Florida residents evacuated homes on Sunday (May 27) as the storm headed north through the Gulf of Mexico.&nbsp

Storm Alberto lashed the western Cuban region of Artemisa on Sunday, swelling a nearby river and dumping up to 12 cm of rain in less than eight hours.

According to local media, some families were evacuated but the rain and flooding were quick to hit. Central regions of Cuba like Villa Clara were also affected.

The storm was about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Panama City, on the Gulf of Mexico coast as of 2 a.m. EDT, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Alberto was expected to drop as much as 12 inches (30 cm) of rain, slamming an area from Mississippi to western Georgia, the Miami-based hurricane center said.

Visitors and residents in Florida's Panhandle are keeping a lookout for subtropical storm Alberto which is expected to slam into the region about mid-afternoon Monday

After storm Alberto lashed in the western regions of Cuba on Sunday, it is now making its way to Florida in the United States with forecasters saying that it could bring life-threatening flooding to Southern coastal states. Visitors and residents in Florida's Panhandle are keeping a lookout for subtropical storm Alberto which is expected to slam into the region about mid-afternoon Monday (May 28), and wallop parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains, blasting winds and possible tornadoes. Thousands of Florida residents evacuated homes on Sunday (May 27) as the storm headed north through the Gulf of Mexico. Storm Alberto lashed the western Cuban region of Artemisa on Sunday, swelling a nearby river and dumping up to 12 cm of rain in less than eight hours. According to local media, some families were evacuated but the rain and flooding were quick to hit. Central regions of Cuba like Villa Clara were also affected. The storm was about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Panama City, on the Gulf of Mexico coast as of 2 a.m. EDT, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Alberto was expected to drop as much as 12 inches (30 cm) of rain, slamming an area from Mississippi to western Georgia, the Miami-based hurricane center said.

Storm Alberto making its way to Florida, may bring life-threatening flooding to Southern coastal states

According to reports, a man was shot by the police at the Trump National Doral Golf Club, on Friday as officers responded to a call about shots being fired.

The man has not been identified but was rushed to a local hospital. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting at present.

Trump National Doral Golf Club, an 800-acre resort outside of Miami, is home to four championship golf courses, including the Blue Monster, which plays host to a PGA Tour event each year. Trump bought the property for $150 million in 2012.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp

The man has not been identified but was rushed to a local hospital

According to reports, a man was shot by the police at the Trump National Doral Golf Club, on Friday as officers responded to a call about shots being fired. The man has not been identified but was rushed to a local hospital. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting at present. Trump National Doral Golf Club, an 800-acre resort outside of Miami, is home to four championship golf courses, including the Blue Monster, which plays host to a PGA Tour event each year. Trump bought the property for $150 million in 2012. (With inputs from Reuters)

Shots fired at Trump's golf resort in Florida, police shoots down one

At least seventeen people have been wounded when a charter bus carrying a high school chorus team crashed early on Sunday morning (local time) in South Carolina`s Colleton County in the United States (US).

There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the wreck, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy, the US media reported.

According to the reports eleven were transported to Colleton Medical Center, two of whom suffered serious injuries, including the bus driver.

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Six more, all students, were referred for treatment after arriving at the hospital later.

McRoy said the bus heading northbound ran off the left side, crossed southbound lanes and went down an embankment.

The group, of students and chaperones from a chorus group at Beddingfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina reportedly, was on its way home from a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

The Beddingfield Chorus Facebook account said all students and chaperones treated at the hospital "should be fine".

A group of students and chaperones was on its way home from a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

At least seventeen people have been wounded when a charter bus carrying a high school chorus team crashed early on Sunday morning (local time) in South Carolina`s Colleton County in the United States (US). There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the wreck, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy, the US media reported. According to the reports eleven were transported to Colleton Medical Center, two of whom suffered serious injuries, including the bus driver. × Six more, all students, were referred for treatment after arriving at the hospital later. McRoy said the bus heading northbound ran off the left side, crossed southbound lanes and went down an embankment. The group, of students and chaperones from a chorus group at Beddingfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina reportedly, was on its way home from a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The Beddingfield Chorus Facebook account said all students and chaperones treated at the hospital "should be fine".

17 wounded in South Carolina road mishap

A student at a school in Florida shot at a classmate today and go him wounded. According to Marion County's Sheriff's office, the suspect was in custody for carrying out a shooting at Forest High School, Ocala in Florida earlier today.&nbsp;

The Ocala shooting came when thousands of students across the United States staged walkouts to mark the 19th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School. The walkouts aimed to pressure US lawmakers to enact tighter gun restrictions.&nbsp;

Students from more than 2,600 schools and institutions were expected to leave their classes at 10:00 a.m. local time, organizers said. Many wore orange, a colour that has come to represent the movement against gun violence, as they observed a 13-second silence in honour of those killed at Columbine.

Outside the White House, scores of young protesters sat in silence while they listened to the names of gun violence victims read aloud.

On April 20, 1999, two Columbine seniors rampaged through their school, killing 12 of their classmates and a teacher before committing suicide. Since then, mass shootings have occurred with shocking frequency across the United States.

he second deadliest public school shooting in U.S. history took place in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, leaving 17 dead. The shooting set off a national student movement calling for an end to gun violence and tighter gun restrictions.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

The Ocala shooting came when thousands of students across the United States staged walkouts to mark the 19th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School

A student at a school in Florida shot at a classmate today and go him wounded. According to Marion County's Sheriff's office, the suspect was in custody for carrying out a shooting at Forest High School, Ocala in Florida earlier today. The Ocala shooting came when thousands of students across the United States staged walkouts to mark the 19th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School. The walkouts aimed to pressure US lawmakers to enact tighter gun restrictions. Students from more than 2,600 schools and institutions were expected to leave their classes at 10:00 a.m. local time, organizers said. Many wore orange, a colour that has come to represent the movement against gun violence, as they observed a 13-second silence in honour of those killed at Columbine. Outside the White House, scores of young protesters sat in silence while they listened to the names of gun violence victims read aloud. On April 20, 1999, two Columbine seniors rampaged through their school, killing 12 of their classmates and a teacher before committing suicide. Since then, mass shootings have occurred with shocking frequency across the United States. he second deadliest public school shooting in U.S. history took place in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, leaving 17 dead. The shooting set off a national student movement calling for an end to gun violence and tighter gun restrictions. (With inputs from Reuters)

Shooting at Florida school on Columbine High School massacre's 19th anniversary

More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month.

&quot;Politicians, either represent the people or get out,&quot; Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington.

&quot;Stand for us or beware -- the voters are coming,&quot; said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the February 14 shooting at his school. 
Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities -- more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the &quot;March For Our Lives.&quot;

Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: &quot;These students WILL change America.&quot;

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Amazing! Final NYC tally: 175,000 joined <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchForOurLives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchForOurLives</a>. And this is a movement that has JUST BEGUN. These students WILL change America!
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977641564171272192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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This movement is going to make a huge change in our country. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchForOurLives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchForOurLives</a> <a href="https://t.co/hknTXcVfTK">pic.twitter.com/hknTXcVfTK</a>
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977605992350285824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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You have to know when a revolution is starting... Today in NYC already 150,000 have taken to the streets for PEACE <a href="https://t.co/j5y0y0L3IT">pic.twitter.com/j5y0y0L3IT</a>
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977598947412926465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000.

The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws.

&quot;The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons,&quot; Kasky said. &quot;The people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks.&quot;

March organizers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force.Signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby.

&quot;These kids are right,&quot; said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally.

&quot;They`re basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans,&quot; Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which also controls Congress.

The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing &quot;Rise Up&quot; and also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 2008. 
But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students.

Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz. 
Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out &quot;We`re with you Emma.&quot;

&quot;Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,&quot; Gonzalez finally said -- the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing.

&quot;Fight for your lives before it`s someone else`s job,&quot; Gonzalez said. &quot;Get out there and vote.&quot;

Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. brought many to tears with a surprise appearance.

&quot;My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character,&quot; she told a rapt crowd.

&quot;I have a dream that enough is enough,&quot; she said, referencing her grandfather`s famous 1963 &quot;I Have a Dream&quot; speech on ending racism.

&quot;And that this should be a gun-free world -- period.&quot;In New York, former Beatle Paul McCartney showed up at a march and spoke of the December 1980 murder of his bandmate John Lennon. 
&quot;Every week you hear about a new shooting and nothing is done about it,&quot; McCartney told AFP. &quot;But I think maybe after this something will be done about it.&quot;

On the other side of the country in Los Angeles, comedian Amy Schumer delivered a passionate plea in front of hundreds of thousands.

&quot;You are killing children,&quot; she said, of the gun lobby. &quot;And they call people like me `Hollywood liberals` like there`s something in it for us.

&quot;Well, what`s in it for us is knowing we`re doing our part to keep our children alive.&quot;

Demonstrations of solidarity also took place around the world, including across cities in Canada, which unveiled stricter gun laws earlier this week including enhanced background checks.

In Scotland, some relatives of those killed in a school shooting in the town of Dunblane in 1996 attended a protest in Edinburgh.

Thousands meanwhile gathered in Parkland to pay tribute to those slain in the city on Valentine`s Day.

&quot;I March Because I Was Almost Silenced,&quot; read a sign carried by Samantha Mayor, 17, who was shot in the knee and wears a heavy brace.

Samantha`s mother, Ellyn, held a sign reading &quot;I`m Marching So No Other Parent Has to Hear `Mom, I`ve Been Shot.`&quot;

Trump was in Florida as marchers gathered in Washington but the White House issued a statement.

&quot;We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today,&quot; it said. &quot;Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President`s.&quot;

The protests were spearheaded by teenagers from the Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month

More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month. "Politicians, either represent the people or get out," Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington. "Stand for us or beware -- the voters are coming," said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the February 14 shooting at his school. Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities -- more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the "March For Our Lives." Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: "These students WILL change America." Amazing! Final NYC tally: 175,000 joined #MarchForOurLives. And this is a movement that has JUST BEGUN. These students WILL change America! — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × This movement is going to make a huge change in our country. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/hknTXcVfTK — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × You have to know when a revolution is starting... Today in NYC already 150,000 have taken to the streets for PEACE pic.twitter.com/j5y0y0L3IT — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000. The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws. "The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons," Kasky said. "The people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks." March organizers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force.Signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby. "These kids are right," said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally. "They`re basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans," Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which also controls Congress. The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing "Rise Up" and also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 2008. But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students. Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz. Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out "We`re with you Emma." "Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds," Gonzalez finally said -- the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing. "Fight for your lives before it`s someone else`s job," Gonzalez said. "Get out there and vote." Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. brought many to tears with a surprise appearance. "My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character," she told a rapt crowd. "I have a dream that enough is enough," she said, referencing her grandfather`s famous 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech on ending racism. "And that this should be a gun-free world -- period."In New York, former Beatle Paul McCartney showed up at a march and spoke of the December 1980 murder of his bandmate John Lennon. "Every week you hear about a new shooting and nothing is done about it," McCartney told AFP. "But I think maybe after this something will be done about it." On the other side of the country in Los Angeles, comedian Amy Schumer delivered a passionate plea in front of hundreds of thousands. "You are killing children," she said, of the gun lobby. "And they call people like me `Hollywood liberals` like there`s something in it for us. "Well, what`s in it for us is knowing we`re doing our part to keep our children alive." Demonstrations of solidarity also took place around the world, including across cities in Canada, which unveiled stricter gun laws earlier this week including enhanced background checks. In Scotland, some relatives of those killed in a school shooting in the town of Dunblane in 1996 attended a protest in Edinburgh. Thousands meanwhile gathered in Parkland to pay tribute to those slain in the city on Valentine`s Day. "I March Because I Was Almost Silenced," read a sign carried by Samantha Mayor, 17, who was shot in the knee and wears a heavy brace. Samantha`s mother, Ellyn, held a sign reading "I`m Marching So No Other Parent Has to Hear `Mom, I`ve Been Shot.`" Trump was in Florida as marchers gathered in Washington but the White House issued a statement. "We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today," it said. "Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President`s."

Over 1 million Americans pour onto streets, demand tighter gun control

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to rally nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in &quot;March For Our Lives&quot; protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which reiginited public anger over mass shootings.

Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington.

The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence.

&quot;This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know that&#39;s not only what I want, but I know it&#39;s what you guys want,&quot; Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday.

The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety.

The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and &quot;Hamilton&quot; creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington.

&quot;Trainwreck&quot; star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally.

Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers. On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms.

On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.

David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby.

&quot;We&#39;re asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA,&quot; he said at the Thursday event in Washington.

An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests.

Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls.

Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to rally nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in "March For Our Lives" protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which reiginited public anger over mass shootings. Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington. The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence. "This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know that's not only what I want, but I know it's what you guys want," Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday. The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety. The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington. "Trainwreck" star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally. Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers. On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms. On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence. David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby. "We're asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA," he said at the Thursday event in Washington. An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests. Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls.

Hundreds of thousands set to march for tighter US gun controls

Four people were killed and at least 10 injured after a bridge collapsed in Miami.

The newly erected 950-ton bridge pedestrian bridge spanned several lanes of traffic&nbsp;at Florida International University.&nbsp;

As the bridge collapsed emergency services rushed to the area to rescue people trapped in the debris amid crushed vehicles and collapsed structures.

Dr. Mark McKenny operating on the injured said patients admitted in the hospital had injuries ranging from abrasions to broken bones.

Several people have been injured in the bridge collapse

Four people were killed and at least 10 injured after a bridge collapsed in Miami. The newly erected 950-ton bridge pedestrian bridge spanned several lanes of traffic at Florida International University. As the bridge collapsed emergency services rushed to the area to rescue people trapped in the debris amid crushed vehicles and collapsed structures. Dr. Mark McKenny operating on the injured said patients admitted in the hospital had injuries ranging from abrasions to broken bones.

Watch: Pedestrian bridge collapses in Florida, 4 dead

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-security-forces-open-fire-on-terrorists-in-pulwama-after-weapon-snatching-incident-35978" target="_blank">J&amp;K: Security forces open fire on terrorists in Pulwama after weapon snatching incident, 2 killed</a>

At least two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s&nbsp;Pulwama district.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pedestrian-bridge-collapses-in-florida-4-dead-35967" target="_blank">Pedestrian bridge collapses in Florida, 4 dead</a>

Four people were killed and at least 10 injured after a bridge collapsed in Miami. The newly erected 950-ton bridge pedestrian bridge spanned several lanes of traffic&nbsp;at Florida International University.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/there-were-disappearingsindhisin-pakistan-35968" target="_blank">Pakistan creating fear among Sindhis due to CPEC: Pak activist to UNHRC</a>

In yet another revelation of suppression of minorities in Pakistan, Dr H Bhutto while addressing the United Nations Human Rights Commission said that Sindhis are &quot;disappearing&quot;&nbsp;in Pakistan.&nbsp;He added that attempts were being made to create&nbsp;fear among Sindhis.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/2-killed-7-injured-in-house-explosion-in-pakistans-balochistan-province-35982" target="_blank">2 killed, 7 injured in house explosion in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan province</a>

At least two persons were killed and seven others injured in an explosion in a house in Kila Saifullah district of Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province, police said Friday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/queen-gives-formal-consent-for-grandson-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle-35963" target="_blank">Queen gives formal consent for grandson Harry to marry Meghan Markle</a>

Britain&#39;s Queen Elizabeth has formally given her permission for her &quot;dearly beloved&quot; grandson Prince Harry to marry his US fiancee&nbsp;Meghan&nbsp;Markle.

J&K: Security forces open fire on terrorists in Pulwama after weapon snatching incident, 2 killed At least two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. Pedestrian bridge collapses in Florida, 4 dead Four people were killed and at least 10 injured after a bridge collapsed in Miami. The newly erected 950-ton bridge pedestrian bridge spanned several lanes of traffic at Florida International University. Pakistan creating fear among Sindhis due to CPEC: Pak activist to UNHRC In yet another revelation of suppression of minorities in Pakistan, Dr H Bhutto while addressing the United Nations Human Rights Commission said that Sindhis are "disappearing" in Pakistan. He added that attempts were being made to create fear among Sindhis. 2 killed, 7 injured in house explosion in Pakistan's Balochistan province At least two persons were killed and seven others injured in an explosion in a house in Kila Saifullah district of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said Friday. Queen gives formal consent for grandson Harry to marry Meghan Markle Britain's Queen Elizabeth has formally given her permission for her "dearly beloved" grandson Prince Harry to marry his US fiancee Meghan Markle.

WION Morning News brief, March 16, 2018

Prosecutors in Florida said Tuesday they will seek the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who killed 17 people last month in a shooting rampage at his former high school.

&quot;The state intends to seek the death penalty against defendant Nikolas Jacob Cruz,&quot; the state attorney for Broward County, Michael Satz, said in a court filing on the eve of the next hearing in the case.

The charges against Cruz -- 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder -- are to be read out in court on Wednesday.

It was unclear whether Cruz would be present, a spokesman for the court told AFP.

Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the south Florida city of Parkland on February 14 and opened fire at students and staff with an AR-15-style semi-automatic weapon.

He was later arrested and admitted under questioning to having carried out the attack.&nbsp;

His lawyers have let it be known he is prepared to plead guilty if he is guaranteed not to receive a death sentence. A plea deal is still possible despite Tuesday&#39;s court filing.

A trial date has yet to be set and would depend on Cruz being declared competent to stand trial.

Tuesday&#39;s court filing said he must give notice at least 20 days before the trial of &quot;intent to present expert testimony of mental mitigation.&quot;

Satz, the Broward county prosecutor, is said to be convinced that the prosecution can show that Cruz&#39;s murders meet the standard for the death penalty.

On Wednesday, tens of thousands of US students plan to observe 17 minutes of silence to mark the deaths exactly one month after the Parkland shooting, and to press lawmakers to enact a ban on AR-15-style weapons.

A trial date has yet to be set and would depend on Cruz being declared competent to stand trial.

Prosecutors in Florida said Tuesday they will seek the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old who killed 17 people last month in a shooting rampage at his former high school. "The state intends to seek the death penalty against defendant Nikolas Jacob Cruz," the state attorney for Broward County, Michael Satz, said in a court filing on the eve of the next hearing in the case. The charges against Cruz -- 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder -- are to be read out in court on Wednesday. It was unclear whether Cruz would be present, a spokesman for the court told AFP. Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the south Florida city of Parkland on February 14 and opened fire at students and staff with an AR-15-style semi-automatic weapon. He was later arrested and admitted under questioning to having carried out the attack. His lawyers have let it be known he is prepared to plead guilty if he is guaranteed not to receive a death sentence. A plea deal is still possible despite Tuesday's court filing. A trial date has yet to be set and would depend on Cruz being declared competent to stand trial. Tuesday's court filing said he must give notice at least 20 days before the trial of "intent to present expert testimony of mental mitigation." Satz, the Broward county prosecutor, is said to be convinced that the prosecution can show that Cruz's murders meet the standard for the death penalty. On Wednesday, tens of thousands of US students plan to observe 17 minutes of silence to mark the deaths exactly one month after the Parkland shooting, and to press lawmakers to enact a ban on AR-15-style weapons.

Florida prosecutors to seek death penalty for high school attacker

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
The US state of Florida, scene of America&#39;s latest school shooting, on Wednesday passed bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed.

The &quot;Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act,&quot; which takes its name from last month&#39;s mass shooting in which 17 people including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature&#39;s lower house a day after clearing the Senate.

It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign.

The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump&#39;s call to arm teachers.

America&#39;s long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the &quot;Never Again&quot; movement demanding legislative action.

The bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21 -- a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group -- bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic and increases mental health funding.

It also includes a voluntary &quot;guardian program&quot; named after Coach Aaron Feis who was slain in the Parkland attack, which is intended to &quot;aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises&quot; by allowing some school employees to be armed.

The program is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience.

Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the bill.&quot;I understand the angst about the guardian program but I can&#39;t help but think about the coaches who literally ran in as shields to protect their students ... while guys with guns were standing outside,&quot; said Republican member Chris Latvala.

&quot;If there are school personnel that want to go to the training to help shield the students and protect them, they should have the opportunity,&quot; he continued.

Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a &quot;poison pill&quot; in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control.

&quot;I&#39;m taking and swallowing that poison pill. As much as I don&#39;t want to, I can&#39;t look in the mirror and leave here and think &#39;I did nothing to help&#39;,&quot; said Representative Joseph Geller.

African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting.

Florida has seen three mass shootings in under two years -- 49 were killed at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five at Fort Lauderdale&#39;s international airport in 2017, and now 17 in Parkland.

The bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle -- the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz -- one of the activists&#39;&nbsp;key demands.

Meanwhile, parents of American children killed in gun violence implored Congress to seize the moment and enact far-reaching gun reform, as the momentum for taking action stalls in politically divided Washington.

With no lawmakers from the controlling Republican Party present, a group of Senate Democrats held a makeshift hearing in the US Capitol to hear testimony from grieving relatives, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, teachers and police officers demanding change to the nation&#39;s laws.

&quot;How many more children are going to need to be slaughtered?&quot; 17-year-old David Hogg asked the senators. 
&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a "poison pill" in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control

The US state of Florida, scene of America's latest school shooting, on Wednesday passed bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed. The "Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act," which takes its name from last month's mass shooting in which 17 people including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature's lower house a day after clearing the Senate. It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign. The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers. America's long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the "Never Again" movement demanding legislative action. The bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21 -- a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group -- bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic and increases mental health funding. It also includes a voluntary "guardian program" named after Coach Aaron Feis who was slain in the Parkland attack, which is intended to "aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises" by allowing some school employees to be armed. The program is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience. Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the bill."I understand the angst about the guardian program but I can't help but think about the coaches who literally ran in as shields to protect their students ... while guys with guns were standing outside," said Republican member Chris Latvala. "If there are school personnel that want to go to the training to help shield the students and protect them, they should have the opportunity," he continued. Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a "poison pill" in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control. "I'm taking and swallowing that poison pill. As much as I don't want to, I can't look in the mirror and leave here and think 'I did nothing to help'," said Representative Joseph Geller. African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting. Florida has seen three mass shootings in under two years -- 49 were killed at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five at Fort Lauderdale's international airport in 2017, and now 17 in Parkland. The bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle -- the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz -- one of the activists' key demands. Meanwhile, parents of American children killed in gun violence implored Congress to seize the moment and enact far-reaching gun reform, as the momentum for taking action stalls in politically divided Washington. With no lawmakers from the controlling Republican Party present, a group of Senate Democrats held a makeshift hearing in the US Capitol to hear testimony from grieving relatives, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, teachers and police officers demanding change to the nation's laws. "How many more children are going to need to be slaughtered?" 17-year-old David Hogg asked the senators.

Florida passes bill to restrict guns, arm some teachers

Only one sheriff&#39;s deputy failed to stop the gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school, the Broward County sheriff said on Sunday, dismissing reports that other deputies did not enter the school during the attack as unverified.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel also said his department acted properly in at least 16 of the 18 calls it received before the massacre, warning that Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old suspect, was dangerous.

Israel rejected a call for his resignation from a state legislator and defended his department on a program &quot;State of the Union&quot; on Sunday from criticism that deputies missed warning signs about Cruz, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Authorities accuse Nikolas Cruz of opening fire with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle on February 14, killing 14 students and three faculty members.

The shooting reignited an intense debate about gun safety laws, with Stoneman students emerging as national voices calling for gun control. They have challenged the National Rifle Association, a politically powerful defender of the US constitutional right to bear arms.

Israel has acknowledged that an armed deputy assigned to the school, Scot Pederson, remained outside during the seven minutes that Cruz was inside the school.

Pederson resigned after he was suspended with the intent to fire him, Israel said.

News organisations have reported that at least three other Broward deputies also failed to enter the campus during the shooting, citing unnamed sources from the Coral Springs Police Department, which also responded.

&quot;Our investigation to this point shows that during this horrific attack, while this killer was inside the school, there was only one law enforcement person, period, and that was former deputy Scot Pederson,&quot; Israel said.

Israel did not rule out that the investigation could find other deputies who were guilty of dereliction of duty.

The sheriff&#39;s office is also investigating whether it missed danger signs about Cruz from two phone calls warning he might be dangerous, Israel said. Proper steps were taken after 16 other calls about Cruz.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation also said it failed to follow proper protocols after it received a tip that Cruz possessed a gun, had indicated the desire to kill and could potentially commit a school shooting.

FBI officials have told families of victims they &quot;deeply regret&quot; their mishandling of the matter.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel also said his department acted properly in at least 16 of the 18 calls it received before the massacre, warning that Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old suspect, was dangerous

Only one sheriff's deputy failed to stop the gunman who killed 17 people at a Florida high school, the Broward County sheriff said on Sunday, dismissing reports that other deputies did not enter the school during the attack as unverified. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel also said his department acted properly in at least 16 of the 18 calls it received before the massacre, warning that Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old suspect, was dangerous. Israel rejected a call for his resignation from a state legislator and defended his department on a program "State of the Union" on Sunday from criticism that deputies missed warning signs about Cruz, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Authorities accuse Nikolas Cruz of opening fire with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle on February 14, killing 14 students and three faculty members. The shooting reignited an intense debate about gun safety laws, with Stoneman students emerging as national voices calling for gun control. They have challenged the National Rifle Association, a politically powerful defender of the US constitutional right to bear arms. Israel has acknowledged that an armed deputy assigned to the school, Scot Pederson, remained outside during the seven minutes that Cruz was inside the school. Pederson resigned after he was suspended with the intent to fire him, Israel said. News organisations have reported that at least three other Broward deputies also failed to enter the campus during the shooting, citing unnamed sources from the Coral Springs Police Department, which also responded. "Our investigation to this point shows that during this horrific attack, while this killer was inside the school, there was only one law enforcement person, period, and that was former deputy Scot Pederson," Israel said. Israel did not rule out that the investigation could find other deputies who were guilty of dereliction of duty. The sheriff's office is also investigating whether it missed danger signs about Cruz from two phone calls warning he might be dangerous, Israel said. Proper steps were taken after 16 other calls about Cruz. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also said it failed to follow proper protocols after it received a tip that Cruz possessed a gun, had indicated the desire to kill and could potentially commit a school shooting. FBI officials have told families of victims they "deeply regret" their mishandling of the matter.

Sheriff says only one deputy at fault in Florida school shooting

Americans support stricter gun laws by a more-than two-to-one margin, one of the highest levels on record, a polling agency reported Tuesday one week after the latest US school shooting left 17 people dead.

The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence, and put Congress and President Donald Trump&#39;s administration in the spotlight as they consider what changes, if any, should be made to the country&#39;s gun laws.

Voters support tightening gun laws by 66 to 31 percent, according to Quinnipiac University&#39;s national poll, which described the margin as &quot;the highest level of support&quot; since it began surveys on the question in 2008.

The poll also found that a majority of gun owners, 50 percent to 44 percent, backed stricter gun laws and that their support specifically for universal background checks rose to an overwhelming 97 percent, against just three percent who opposed such checks or expressed no opinion.

&quot;If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again,&quot; Quinnipiac poll assistant director Tim Malloy said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years,&quot; he added, referring to December 2015 poll data that showed 47 percent of voters supported tightening such laws.

When broken down by political party, however, the latest results show that just 34 percent of Republicans support stricter gun laws, compared with 86 percent of Democrats.

Trump signalled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to expand and improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the Florida school shooting.

Several legislative proposals were introduced after a shooter killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons like the one used last week in Florida, banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets and a universal background check bill. 
&nbsp;

The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence

Americans support stricter gun laws by a more-than two-to-one margin, one of the highest levels on record, a polling agency reported Tuesday one week after the latest US school shooting left 17 people dead. The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence, and put Congress and President Donald Trump's administration in the spotlight as they consider what changes, if any, should be made to the country's gun laws. Voters support tightening gun laws by 66 to 31 percent, according to Quinnipiac University's national poll, which described the margin as "the highest level of support" since it began surveys on the question in 2008. The poll also found that a majority of gun owners, 50 percent to 44 percent, backed stricter gun laws and that their support specifically for universal background checks rose to an overwhelming 97 percent, against just three percent who opposed such checks or expressed no opinion. "If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again," Quinnipiac poll assistant director Tim Malloy said in a statement. "Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years," he added, referring to December 2015 poll data that showed 47 percent of voters supported tightening such laws. When broken down by political party, however, the latest results show that just 34 percent of Republicans support stricter gun laws, compared with 86 percent of Democrats. Trump signalled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to expand and improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the Florida school shooting. Several legislative proposals were introduced after a shooter killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons like the one used last week in Florida, banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets and a universal background check bill.

Two thirds of Americans support stricter gun laws: Poll

After a shooter killed 17 people at a Florida high school, many have expressed frustration at the political hand-wringing over gun control and calls for prayer.

As a parent, I understand the desire for practical responses to school shootings. I also absolutely believe the government should do more to prevent such incidents. But the gun control debate has proven so divisive and ineffective that I am weary of waiting for politicians to act.

I study the kind of aggressive childhood behavior that often predates school shootings. That research suggests what communities and families can start doing today to better protect children. Here are 10 actions we can all take while the federal government drags its heels.

What schools can do

Because educators observe students&rsquo; emotional and behavioral development daily, they are best positioned to detect troubled behaviors and intervene. In Los Angeles, for example, schools have successfully used outreach and training to identify potentially violent students before problems occur.

1. Teach social and emotional skills

Children learn social skills from everyday interactions with each other. Playtime teaches young people how to control their emotions, recognize others&rsquo; feelings and to negotiate. Neighborhood &ldquo;kick the can&rdquo; games, for example, require cooperation to have fun &ndash; all without adult supervision.

Today, frequent social media use and a decrease in free play time have reduced children&rsquo;s opportunities to learn these basic social skills.

But social and emotional skills can &ndash; and should &ndash; be taught in school as a way to prevent student violence. Students with more fluent social skills connect better with others and may be more able to recognize troubled peers who need help.

2. Hire more counselors and school resource officers

Due to budget cuts, many schools have few or no trained school psychologists, social workers or adjustment counselors on staff. These mental health professionals are society&rsquo;s first line of defense against troubled students &ndash; especially with the current increase in adolescent depression and anxiety.

In my opinion, school resource officers &ndash; trained police officers who work with children &ndash; are also helpful for students. While untrained officers may pose a threat to students, well-trained school resource officers can connect with kids who have few other relationships, acting as a support system. They are also on hand to respond quickly if crime or violence erupts.

Putting trained school resource officers and counselors in every school will cost money, but I believe it will save lives.

3. Use technology to identify troubled students

Technology may challenge kids&rsquo; social development, but it can also be harnessed for good. Anonymous reporting systems &ndash; perhaps text-message based &ndash; can make it easier for parents and students to alert law enforcement and school counselors to kids who seem disconnected or disturbed. That enables early intervention.

In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, one such tip appeared to prevent extreme violence in May 2017. Police took a young man who&rsquo;d threatened to harm his peers into protective custody before he could act on his words.

What communities can do

Communities also help raise children. With many eyes and ears, they can detect often smaller problems before young people grow into violence.

4. Doctors should conduct standard mental health screenings

Extreme violence is almost always preceded by certain behavioral problems. These typically include a propensity toward aggression, a marked lack of social connectedness, indications of serious mental illness and a fascination with violence and guns.

Doctors could detect these problems early on with a standardized screening at health checkups. If concerns arise, referrals to counseling or other mental health professionals might follow.

5. Enlist social media companies in the effort to detect threats

Most young people today use social media to express their feelings and aspirations. In the case of school shooters, these posts are often violent. A single violent post is hardly a guarantee of homicidal acts, of course. But evidence strongly indicates that repeated expressions of this nature can be a sign of trouble.

I would like to see companies like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat create algorithms that identify repeated online threats and automatically alert local law enforcement.

What parents can do

Parents and guardians are often the first to detect their child&rsquo;s emotional struggles. Here are some tips for monitoring and promoting healthy emotional development at home.

6. Think critically about your child&rsquo;s social media use

From virtual war games to cruel trolls, the internet is full of violence. The relationship between violent content and aggression hasn&rsquo;t been consistent in research: Some studies see no relationship at all, while others find some correlation between violent video games and violent behavior.

This mixed evidence suggests that online content affects children differently, so parents must assess how well their child handles it. If your daughter likes &ldquo;Assassin&rsquo;s Creed&rdquo; but is gentle, socially successful and happy, the onscreen violence may not be strongly impacting her.&nbsp;

But if your child is drawn to violent games and tends to be aggressive or troubled, discuss the situation with your pediatrician or school counselor.

7. Consider what your child is missing out on

Is your child sleeping properly? Do your kids socialize with other young people? These two behaviors are linked to mental health in children, and excessive screen time can reduce or diminish the quality of both.

Make sure digital devices aren&rsquo;t disrupting your kids&rsquo; sleep, and schedule play dates if your kids don&rsquo;t make plans on their own.

8. Assess your child&rsquo;s relationships

Like adults, children need confidants to feel invested in and connected with their community. The trusted person can be parent, a family member or a friend &ndash; just make sure someone&rsquo;s playing that role.

For children who struggle to make friends and build relationships, there are programs that can help them learn how.

9. Fret productively about screen time

Research shows that excessive screen time can damage kids&rsquo; brains. That&rsquo;s alarming in part because parents can&rsquo;t realistically keep kids entirely off devices.

So rather than just fret over screen time, focus instead on how children can benefit from a variety of activities. Evidence shows that children who experience different pursuits over the course of their day &ndash; from sports and music to an after-school job &ndash; are happier and healthier for it.

10. Talk with your child

This is both the easiest and hardest way to make sure your kids are doing OK. Children, especially teenagers, don&rsquo;t always want to talk about how life is going. Ask anyway.

My research shows that simply asking children about their friends, their technology use and their day is an important way to show you care. Even if they don&rsquo;t respond, your interest demonstrates that you&rsquo;re there for them.

Try this one now. Ask your children what they&rsquo;re thinking about the shooting in Florida and how they like their friends and school. Then listen.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Schools, parents, and communities all have a role to play in preventing school shootings. Most importantly, we need to discuss with kids about their lives.

After a shooter killed 17 people at a Florida high school, many have expressed frustration at the political hand-wringing over gun control and calls for prayer. As a parent, I understand the desire for practical responses to school shootings. I also absolutely believe the government should do more to prevent such incidents. But the gun control debate has proven so divisive and ineffective that I am weary of waiting for politicians to act. I study the kind of aggressive childhood behavior that often predates school shootings. That research suggests what communities and families can start doing today to better protect children. Here are 10 actions we can all take while the federal government drags its heels. What schools can do Because educators observe students’ emotional and behavioral development daily, they are best positioned to detect troubled behaviors and intervene. In Los Angeles, for example, schools have successfully used outreach and training to identify potentially violent students before problems occur. 1. Teach social and emotional skills Children learn social skills from everyday interactions with each other. Playtime teaches young people how to control their emotions, recognize others’ feelings and to negotiate. Neighborhood “kick the can” games, for example, require cooperation to have fun – all without adult supervision. Today, frequent social media use and a decrease in free play time have reduced children’s opportunities to learn these basic social skills. But social and emotional skills can – and should – be taught in school as a way to prevent student violence. Students with more fluent social skills connect better with others and may be more able to recognize troubled peers who need help. 2. Hire more counselors and school resource officers Due to budget cuts, many schools have few or no trained school psychologists, social workers or adjustment counselors on staff. These mental health professionals are society’s first line of defense against troubled students – especially with the current increase in adolescent depression and anxiety. In my opinion, school resource officers – trained police officers who work with children – are also helpful for students. While untrained officers may pose a threat to students, well-trained school resource officers can connect with kids who have few other relationships, acting as a support system. They are also on hand to respond quickly if crime or violence erupts. Putting trained school resource officers and counselors in every school will cost money, but I believe it will save lives. 3. Use technology to identify troubled students Technology may challenge kids’ social development, but it can also be harnessed for good. Anonymous reporting systems – perhaps text-message based – can make it easier for parents and students to alert law enforcement and school counselors to kids who seem disconnected or disturbed. That enables early intervention. In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, one such tip appeared to prevent extreme violence in May 2017. Police took a young man who’d threatened to harm his peers into protective custody before he could act on his words. What communities can do Communities also help raise children. With many eyes and ears, they can detect often smaller problems before young people grow into violence. 4. Doctors should conduct standard mental health screenings Extreme violence is almost always preceded by certain behavioral problems. These typically include a propensity toward aggression, a marked lack of social connectedness, indications of serious mental illness and a fascination with violence and guns. Doctors could detect these problems early on with a standardized screening at health checkups. If concerns arise, referrals to counseling or other mental health professionals might follow. 5. Enlist social media companies in the effort to detect threats Most young people today use social media to express their feelings and aspirations. In the case of school shooters, these posts are often violent. A single violent post is hardly a guarantee of homicidal acts, of course. But evidence strongly indicates that repeated expressions of this nature can be a sign of trouble. I would like to see companies like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat create algorithms that identify repeated online threats and automatically alert local law enforcement. What parents can do Parents and guardians are often the first to detect their child’s emotional struggles. Here are some tips for monitoring and promoting healthy emotional development at home. 6. Think critically about your child’s social media use From virtual war games to cruel trolls, the internet is full of violence. The relationship between violent content and aggression hasn’t been consistent in research: Some studies see no relationship at all, while others find some correlation between violent video games and violent behavior. This mixed evidence suggests that online content affects children differently, so parents must assess how well their child handles it. If your daughter likes “Assassin’s Creed” but is gentle, socially successful and happy, the onscreen violence may not be strongly impacting her. But if your child is drawn to violent games and tends to be aggressive or troubled, discuss the situation with your pediatrician or school counselor. 7. Consider what your child is missing out on Is your child sleeping properly? Do your kids socialize with other young people? These two behaviors are linked to mental health in children, and excessive screen time can reduce or diminish the quality of both. Make sure digital devices aren’t disrupting your kids’ sleep, and schedule play dates if your kids don’t make plans on their own. 8. Assess your child’s relationships Like adults, children need confidants to feel invested in and connected with their community. The trusted person can be parent, a family member or a friend – just make sure someone’s playing that role. For children who struggle to make friends and build relationships, there are programs that can help them learn how. 9. Fret productively about screen time Research shows that excessive screen time can damage kids’ brains. That’s alarming in part because parents can’t realistically keep kids entirely off devices. So rather than just fret over screen time, focus instead on how children can benefit from a variety of activities. Evidence shows that children who experience different pursuits over the course of their day – from sports and music to an after-school job – are happier and healthier for it. 10. Talk with your child This is both the easiest and hardest way to make sure your kids are doing OK. Children, especially teenagers, don’t always want to talk about how life is going. Ask anyway. My research shows that simply asking children about their friends, their technology use and their day is an important way to show you care. Even if they don’t respond, your interest demonstrates that you’re there for them. Try this one now. Ask your children what they’re thinking about the shooting in Florida and how they like their friends and school. Then listen. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Florida shooting teaches us 10 ways to safeguard our children

US First Lady Melania Trump on Friday chose not to leave the White House with her husband as planned to catch a flight to Florida, after a second woman claimed she had an affair with the now president.

The 47-year-old Slovenian-born model skipped the helicopter ride from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, deciding instead to take the longer motorcade on her own to meet Donald for the flight to the Sunshine State for a long holiday weekend.

Reporters traveling with Trump were prevented from seeing the First Lady arrive on the plane, but she did exit the plane at West Palm Beach with Trump.&nbsp;

The pair walked down the stairs together, Melania in dark sunglasses, but she did not smile.

The flight came just hours after former Playboy model Karen McDougal claimed she and Trump had a sexual relationship in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth to the president&#39;s youngest son Barron.

McDougal also described complex legal and financial agreements that were used in an alleged bid to cover it up.

The White House did not reply to a request for comment. But in a statement to The New Yorker, an unnamed spokesperson said the president had denied having a relationship with McDougal, calling the claims &quot;fake news.&quot;

And the first lady&#39;s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham tried to pour cold water on any speculation about the first couple&#39;s relationship, saying: &quot;&quot;With her schedule, it was easier to meet him on the plane.&quot;

Deal with a tabloid 

According to The New Yorker, the nine-month relationship between Trump and McDougal ended quietly, but years later -- during the 2016 presidential campaign -- she sold her story.

The New Yorker reported that on August 5, 2016, McDougal agreed to give the company which owns the National Inquirer tabloid exclusive rights over &quot;any romantic, personal, or physical relationship she has ever had with any &#39;then-married man.&#39;&quot;

The deal is alleged to have been worth $150,000, but the story never ran.

&quot;I&#39;m the one who took it, so it&#39;s my fault, too. But I didn&#39;t understand the full parameters of it,&quot; McDougal told The New Yorker of the alleged payment.

The National Enquirer is owned by David Pecker, who has claimed to be a friend of Trump&#39;s. The tabloid endorsed Trump&#39;s bid for the presidency.

In a statement, the tabloid&#39;s owner, AMI, said that the suggestion that it &quot;engages in any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President of the United States is laughable.&quot;

The model&#39;s story strongly echoes allegations of an affair between Trump and the porn star Stephanie Clifford -- known as Stormy Daniels -- during the same period.

In that case, the president&#39;s personal lawyer Michael Cohen admitted to paying Daniels $130,000 but refused to say why.

After that admission, Daniels&#39; agent has said she feels free to speak out.

&quot;Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story,&quot; manager Gina Rodriguez told US media

 
&nbsp;&#39;Lawful&#39; payment to porn star&nbsp;

Good governance groups believe that Cohen&#39;s payment could constitute a campaign donation and breach election financial rules.

Cohen has refused to say why he paid Daniels the vast sum but he claims he was not reimbursed by the &quot;Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign.&quot;

&quot;The payment to Ms Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone,&quot; Cohen said.

Trump declined to comment on the issue. The White House has dodged questions about whether allegations of an affair are true, claiming the matter was dealt with during the campaign.

Last month, celebrity magazine In Touch published a 2011 interview with Daniels in which she details having &quot;textbook generic&quot; sex with Trump.

She recalled meeting Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006, shortly after Melania gave birth to Barron.

Reporters traveling with Trump were prevented from seeing the First Lady arrive on the plane, but she did exit the plane at West Palm Beach with Trump.

US First Lady Melania Trump on Friday chose not to leave the White House with her husband as planned to catch a flight to Florida, after a second woman claimed she had an affair with the now president. The 47-year-old Slovenian-born model skipped the helicopter ride from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, deciding instead to take the longer motorcade on her own to meet Donald for the flight to the Sunshine State for a long holiday weekend. Reporters traveling with Trump were prevented from seeing the First Lady arrive on the plane, but she did exit the plane at West Palm Beach with Trump. The pair walked down the stairs together, Melania in dark sunglasses, but she did not smile. The flight came just hours after former Playboy model Karen McDougal claimed she and Trump had a sexual relationship in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth to the president's youngest son Barron. McDougal also described complex legal and financial agreements that were used in an alleged bid to cover it up. The White House did not reply to a request for comment. But in a statement to The New Yorker, an unnamed spokesperson said the president had denied having a relationship with McDougal, calling the claims "fake news." And the first lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham tried to pour cold water on any speculation about the first couple's relationship, saying: ""With her schedule, it was easier to meet him on the plane." Deal with a tabloid According to The New Yorker, the nine-month relationship between Trump and McDougal ended quietly, but years later -- during the 2016 presidential campaign -- she sold her story. The New Yorker reported that on August 5, 2016, McDougal agreed to give the company which owns the National Inquirer tabloid exclusive rights over "any romantic, personal, or physical relationship she has ever had with any 'then-married man.'" The deal is alleged to have been worth $150,000, but the story never ran. "I'm the one who took it, so it's my fault, too. But I didn't understand the full parameters of it," McDougal told The New Yorker of the alleged payment. The National Enquirer is owned by David Pecker, who has claimed to be a friend of Trump's. The tabloid endorsed Trump's bid for the presidency. In a statement, the tabloid's owner, AMI, said that the suggestion that it "engages in any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President of the United States is laughable." The model's story strongly echoes allegations of an affair between Trump and the porn star Stephanie Clifford -- known as Stormy Daniels -- during the same period. In that case, the president's personal lawyer Michael Cohen admitted to paying Daniels $130,000 but refused to say why. After that admission, Daniels' agent has said she feels free to speak out. "Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story," manager Gina Rodriguez told US media 'Lawful' payment to porn star Good governance groups believe that Cohen's payment could constitute a campaign donation and breach election financial rules. Cohen has refused to say why he paid Daniels the vast sum but he claims he was not reimbursed by the "Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign." "The payment to Ms Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone," Cohen said. Trump declined to comment on the issue. The White House has dodged questions about whether allegations of an affair are true, claiming the matter was dealt with during the campaign. Last month, celebrity magazine In Touch published a 2011 interview with Daniels in which she details having "textbook generic" sex with Trump. She recalled meeting Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006, shortly after Melania gave birth to Barron.

Melania shuns cameras as second woman alleges Trump affair

The 19-year-old man accused of killing 17 people at a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/call-for-gun-control-in-us-after-school-shooting-8394" target="_blank">Florida high school</a> fled hidden in a crowd of frightened students and visited two fast food restaurants before he was arrested less than two hours after the massacre, officials said on Thursday.

Authorities said the alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, stopped at a Wal-Mart, a Subway restaurant and a McDonald&#39;s immediately after carrying one of the deadliest mass shootings at a public school in US history.

&quot;The suspect crossed fields and ran west along with others who were fleeing and tried to mix in with the group that were running away, fearing for their lives,&quot; Broward Country Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters.

Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, is accused of using a legally purchased AR-15-style weapon in Wednesday&#39;s attack, moving through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland outside Miami.

Cruz was a former student of the school who had been expelled.

Authorities said the alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, stopped at a Wal-Mart, a Subway restaurant and a McDonald's immediately after carrying one of the deadliest mass shootings at a public school in US history

The 19-year-old man accused of killing 17 people at a Florida high school fled hidden in a crowd of frightened students and visited two fast food restaurants before he was arrested less than two hours after the massacre, officials said on Thursday. Authorities said the alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, stopped at a Wal-Mart, a Subway restaurant and a McDonald's immediately after carrying one of the deadliest mass shootings at a public school in US history. "The suspect crossed fields and ran west along with others who were fleeing and tried to mix in with the group that were running away, fearing for their lives," Broward Country Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters. Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, is accused of using a legally purchased AR-15-style weapon in Wednesday's attack, moving through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland outside Miami. Cruz was a former student of the school who had been expelled.

Accused Florida gunman visited restaurants, store after killing - Police

Madras High Court today upheld the decision of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elections-commission-calls-off-polls-in-tamil-nadus-vellore-over-cash-haul-210961">Election Commission of India to cancel</a> the election to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency.

The Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency was cancelled on Tuesday by the EC following the recovery of a huge amount of cash allegedly from an associate of a DMK leader.

The EC took the decision after the district police had filed a complaint against the accused, Kathir Anand, as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10. Polling in Vellore was scheduled on April 18.

Anand was charged under the Representation of the People Act for giving "wrong information" in his election affidavit filed along with his nomination papers, the police said. The other two, identified as Srinivasan and Damodaran, were booked under bribery charges.

The recommendation was sent to the legislative department of the law ministry Tuesday which issued the notification.

On March 30, Income Tax officials had conducted searches at the residence of Anand's father Durai Murugan over suspected use of unaccounted money for electioneering, and seized Rs 10.50 lakh in alleged "excess" cash.

Two days later, they claimed to have seized Rs 11.53 crore from a cement godown belonging to a DMK leader's associate in the same district.

(Inputs: ANI, PTI)

25th school massacre in Florida calls for a debate on armed staff in schools

Madras High Court today upheld the decision of Election Commission of India to cancel the election to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency. The Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency was cancelled on Tuesday by the EC following the recovery of a huge amount of cash allegedly from an associate of a DMK leader. The EC took the decision after the district police had filed a complaint against the accused, Kathir Anand, as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10. Polling in Vellore was scheduled on April 18. Anand was charged under the Representation of the People Act for giving "wrong information" in his election affidavit filed along with his nomination papers, the police said. The other two, identified as Srinivasan and Damodaran, were booked under bribery charges. The recommendation was sent to the legislative department of the law ministry Tuesday which issued the notification. On March 30, Income Tax officials had conducted searches at the residence of Anand's father Durai Murugan over suspected use of unaccounted money for electioneering, and seized Rs 10.50 lakh in alleged "excess" cash. Two days later, they claimed to have seized Rs 11.53 crore from a cement godown belonging to a DMK leader's associate in the same district. (Inputs: ANI, PTI)

Opinion: School security in Florida after 18 shootings in 2018

A 19-year-old gunman returning to a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-student-opens-fire-in-florida-school-at-least-17-killed-32906">Florida&nbsp;high school </a>where he had once been expelled opened fire with an assault rifle on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others before he was arrested, authorities said.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland ranked as the second-deadliest act of gun violence ever on a US&nbsp;public school campus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-shooting-suspect-was-a-troubled-former-student-who-loved-guns-32926">Florida shooting: Suspect was a &#39;troubled former student who loved guns&#39; </a>

Several thousand took to Twitter shortly after the incident to express their shock.&nbsp;

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This video footage from this kid&#39;s classroom in Parkland, Florida is so scary.. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Florida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForFlorida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForFlorida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Parkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Parkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForParkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForParkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FloridaSchoolShooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FloridaSchoolShooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floridashooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floridashooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayforDouglas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayforDouglas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StonemanShooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StonemanShooting</a> <a href="https://t.co/YaZr26gA2E">pic.twitter.com/YaZr26gA2E</a>
&mdash; OfficialWilly2.0 (@therealwill17) <a href="https://twitter.com/therealwill17/status/963993616082526208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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While hiding in a bathroom for two hours, this is the text Sarah Crescitelli sent her parents. Dad and Mom both crying re-reading it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stonemanshooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stonemanshooting</a> @ <a href="https://t.co/zN7RY8a4vE">pic.twitter.com/zN7RY8a4vE</a>
&mdash; Chabeli Herrera (@ChabeliH) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChabeliH/status/963960184723918849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Parent&#39;s conversation with -14-year-old son who is currently in lockdown. <a href="https://t.co/6M4f0FrbZJ">pic.twitter.com/6M4f0FrbZJ</a>
&mdash; Carli Teproff (@CTeproff) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTeproff/status/963886220928483328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts &amp; prayers.
&mdash; Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/963882232179019781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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When I was in the Army I used an M-4. It uses a 5.56 mm round. The M-4 and the AR -15 are the same weapon with some variations. The victims in the Parkland Florida shooting were fired on with the same weapon the military uses in combat. 
Why in the hell are they on our streets ?
&mdash; Jacob Gil (@jacob4kids) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacob4kids/status/963983457226440704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Citizens United and the corrupt politicians that take obscene amounts of corporate blood money in exchange for our children&rsquo;s lives are responsible for today&rsquo;s tradgedy in Parkland, Florida. 
 
Hold them accountable then kick those soulless hypocrites to the curb.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnoughIsEnough?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EnoughIsEnough</a>
&mdash; Take Ivanka to Work (@IvankaToWorkDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaToWorkDay/status/963989818718920705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Terrorist deaths in America over the past 10 years: 92 
 
Gun homicides in America over the past 10 years: 120,000 
 
Good thing we are building walls, expanding the military, and spending billions to keep us safe from terrorists. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/florida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/parkland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#parkland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floridashooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floridashooting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/guncontrolnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#guncontrolnow</a>
&mdash; Matty Ice (@MattyIceUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattyIceUS/status/963997352150253568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The gunman was identified as Nikolaus Cruz, ex-student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland

A 19-year-old gunman returning to a Florida high school where he had once been expelled opened fire with an assault rifle on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others before he was arrested, authorities said. The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland ranked as the second-deadliest act of gun violence ever on a US public school campus. Also read: Florida shooting: Suspect was a 'troubled former student who loved guns' Several thousand took to Twitter shortly after the incident to express their shock. This video footage from this kid's classroom in Parkland, Florida is so scary.. #Florida #PrayForFlorida #Parkland #PrayForParkland #FloridaSchoolShooting #floridashooting #PrayforDouglas #StonemanShooting pic.twitter.com/YaZr26gA2E — OfficialWilly2.0 (@therealwill17) February 15, 2018 × While hiding in a bathroom for two hours, this is the text Sarah Crescitelli sent her parents. Dad and Mom both crying re-reading it. #stonemanshooting @ pic.twitter.com/zN7RY8a4vE — Chabeli Herrera (@ChabeliH) February 15, 2018 × Parent's conversation with -14-year-old son who is currently in lockdown. pic.twitter.com/6M4f0FrbZJ — Carli Teproff (@CTeproff) February 14, 2018 × My heart is heavy over the school shooting in Florida. Keeping all affected in my thoughts & prayers. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2018 × When I was in the Army I used an M-4. It uses a 5.56 mm round. The M-4 and the AR -15 are the same weapon with some variations. The victims in the Parkland Florida shooting were fired on with the same weapon the military uses in combat. Why in the hell are they on our streets ? — Jacob Gil (@jacob4kids) February 15, 2018 × Citizens United and the corrupt politicians that take obscene amounts of corporate blood money in exchange for our children’s lives are responsible for today’s tradgedy in Parkland, Florida. Hold them accountable then kick those soulless hypocrites to the curb.#EnoughIsEnough — Take Ivanka to Work (@IvankaToWorkDay) February 15, 2018 × Terrorist deaths in America over the past 10 years: 92 Gun homicides in America over the past 10 years: 120,000 Good thing we are building walls, expanding the military, and spending billions to keep us safe from terrorists. #florida #parkland #floridashooting #guncontrolnow — Matty Ice (@MattyIceUS) February 15, 2018 ×

Twitter fills with outrage after Florida school shooting

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-student-opens-fire-in-florida-school-at-least-17-killed-32906">Ex-student opens fire in Florida school, at least 17 killed</a>

A 19-year-old former student opened fire at a Florida school killing at least 17 people terrifying students before he was arrested by police. The gunman was identified as Nikolaus Cruz, an ex-student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Cruz was earlier expelled from school due to &quot;disciplinary reasons.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/now-india-china-battle-in-bangladesh-stock-exchange-32913">Now, India, China battle in Bangladesh stock exchange</a>

India and China put up bids in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) as the struggle for supremacy in South Asia took a new turn in the Bangladesh stock exchange. The bids immediately became the centre of controversy as India&#39;s National Stock Exchange had offered 15 taka ($0.18) per share for a 25 per cent stake and China&#39;s Shanghai and Shenzen stock exchanges made a joint higher bid of 22 taka ($0.26) per share, or $122 million.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/oru-adaar-love-director-refuses-to-withdraw-song-from-film-32914">&#39;Oru </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/oru-adaar-love-director-refuses-to-withdraw-song-from-film-32914">Adaar</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/oru-adaar-love-director-refuses-to-withdraw-song-from-film-32914"> Love&#39; director refuses to withdraw song from film</a>

The director of the Malayalam film &quot;Oru Adaar Love&quot; Omar Lulu and its music director Shan Rehman said on Wednesday that the song &quot;Manikya Malaraya poovi&quot; would not be withdrawn for the time being. The statement, made at a late night press conference by Omar Lulu and Shan Rehman on Wednesday, comes after a police complaint against the director stating that the lyrics of the song hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/54-dolphins-found-stranded-on-mexican-beach-32908">21 dolphins dead, several washed up on Mexico beach</a>

Mexican authorities have informed that dozens of dolphins were found stranded on a rocky beach along the coast of Baja California Sur State on Tuesday. At least 21 dolphins were found dead out of the 54 that had washed up on the beach in northern Mexico, federal environmental protection agency said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/zuma-resigns-as-president-of-south-africa-32912">Zuma resigns as President of South Africa</a>

Jacob Zuma resigned as President of South Africa on Wednesday under pressure from his own party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), to quit. The resignation brought an end to his nine years in power which were plagued by charges of graft and economic slowdown.

Ex-student opens fire in Florida school, at least 17 killed A 19-year-old former student opened fire at a Florida school killing at least 17 people terrifying students before he was arrested by police. The gunman was identified as Nikolaus Cruz, an ex-student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Cruz was earlier expelled from school due to "disciplinary reasons." Now, India, China battle in Bangladesh stock exchange India and China put up bids in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) as the struggle for supremacy in South Asia took a new turn in the Bangladesh stock exchange. The bids immediately became the centre of controversy as India's National Stock Exchange had offered 15 taka ($0.18) per share for a 25 per cent stake and China's Shanghai and Shenzen stock exchanges made a joint higher bid of 22 taka ($0.26) per share, or $122 million. 'Oru Adaar Love' director refuses to withdraw song from film The director of the Malayalam film "Oru Adaar Love" Omar Lulu and its music director Shan Rehman said on Wednesday that the song "Manikya Malaraya poovi" would not be withdrawn for the time being. The statement, made at a late night press conference by Omar Lulu and Shan Rehman on Wednesday, comes after a police complaint against the director stating that the lyrics of the song hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. 21 dolphins dead, several washed up on Mexico beach Mexican authorities have informed that dozens of dolphins were found stranded on a rocky beach along the coast of Baja California Sur State on Tuesday. At least 21 dolphins were found dead out of the 54 that had washed up on the beach in northern Mexico, federal environmental protection agency said. Zuma resigns as President of South Africa Jacob Zuma resigned as President of South Africa on Wednesday under pressure from his own party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), to quit. The resignation brought an end to his nine years in power which were plagued by charges of graft and economic slowdown.

WION Morning News Brief, February 15, 2018

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